City Manifesto

The three red lights blink
He follows to and from the east
as she weaves through
in the rush of the moment
forgetting his identity
yet she leads him back
and helps him find it

The three red lights flare
at his teary eyes
as he remembers the places
from the city to the suburbs
from the city to the hills
and canyons on its outskirts

Manila
Ortigas
Cainta
Quezon
Alabang
Tagaytay
Paranaque

Dubai?
Singapore?
Hong Kong?
San Francisco?
Washington DC

Adventure or escape?
constriction and release
each curb and corner
each encounter
liberates and frees

The bondage of asphalt pavement
gives way
to the freedom of the runway

As the city turns
May she find her place
in the grand scheme of things

The city found me
and my connection with it
continues and thrives
as I long to grow and
build on my foundations
and maybe some day
find the city
and help build her

Nonetheless, cities are abound
and will never be in short supply
for the waves of builders like me;
but none can ever be
my emerald city
glowing in the night
fleeting, ephemeral
eternal in my memory