The City At Night – 13th October 2026

~ shaun tenzenmen 
From the widespread blackouts
  to the districts' neon-bright,
  a low voltage of anxiety
  crackles through the night.
    —I am this city.

In the pulse of stalled traffic,
  through the sirens' angry weave,
  under lonely concrete bridges
    I sometimes sit and grieve.

Then midnight sends her repair crews
  to patch the potholes deep
  all down my memory lane,
    while subconscious consoles sleep.

Applause trembles in my ribs,
  a protest locks my jaw
  this fractured municipality
    is what I'm rooting for.

What this city dares to admit;
  the details of its trauma;
  the bus route takes a detour
    as service restored, much warmer.

Inspired after reading Maia’s Diaries

Today’s Daily Stoic poem:

Revenge Is A Dish Best Not Served

Vengeance does not lead oneself to healing
It just keeps the wound freshly bleeding
While hitting back may seem appealing
Set the example you’d like to see succeeding

22 thoughts on “The City At Night – 13th October 2026”

  3. You brought the city to life in your poem, Shaun. I felt that low voltage of anxiety crackling through the night and the ‘pulse of stalled traffic’. I think every city has lonely bridges, concrete, brick or metal. I felt relief at the warmer ending.

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    1. Thanks Reelika 🙏 I work and read on a laptop more than on a phone screen and I’ve been experimenting with the formatting options recently. My guess is that it doesn’t look so good on a phone screen!

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Time is short, we know. All comments sincerely appreciated.