Geometry

Earth tone structures throw
a geometry of shadows,
some angled, some ragged,
in the punishing sun.
Windows reflect light until it grabs the city
and shakes it by the scruff,
plays pick-up sticks with chimney stacks
and hide-and-seek with sky-lights.
There is no shade, just brick and concrete,
from skyscraper roof to urban street.
Inside, cool air hiccups from air-conditioning;
outside, exhaust belches from traffic,
suffocating the weeds that crack
paving stones blistering pedestrian’s feet.

Kim M. Russell, 17th July 2025

‘City Roofs’ by Edward Hopper, 1932, wikiart.org

This Thursday at the dVerse Poets Pub it’s Open Link Night, the opportunity to link one poem of our choice, with an optional mini prompt for those who like them.

Sanaa is our host, and she has given us an image, a painting by Edward Hopper entitled City Roofs. I’m a fan of Hopper and thought I’d have a go at this prompt, which asks us to either use the image as a muse to write an ekphrastic poem or use the title of the image as part of a poem. Sanaa has also shared a poem by Timothy Steele, ‘From a Rooftop’, as inspiration.

Also linked to Sumana’s open link at What’s Going On? on 30th July 2025.

48 thoughts on “Geometry”

  4. I am especially enamored with these lines, Kim:

    Windows reflect light until it grabs the city
    and shakes it by the scruff,
    plays pick-up sticks with chimney stacks
    and hide-and-seek with sky-lights.

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  6. I love so many lines in this especially about the air conditioner hiccuping. But also this: “Windows reflect light until it grabs the city
    and shakes it by the scruff,
    plays pick-up sticks with chimney stacks
    and hide-and-seek with sky-lights.”

    shakes it by the scruff! I love that.

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  9. You’ve cast this one splendidly, Kim. Your description is spot-on. My favorite part:

    “Windows reflect light until it grabs the city
    and shakes it by the scruff,
    plays pick-up sticks with chimney stacks
    and hide-and-seek with sky-lights.”

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  10. I really like the implications of this line, “grabs the city / and shakes it by the scruff.” The Way light bounces around cities is fantastic. In the skyscraper canyons of Seoul, Tokyo, and New York City—places that I visited many times (I lived in Seoul). The light is so different because it bounces around and creates funny shapes and odd pools and eddies. Very nice poem. Thank you very much.

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  15. The painting and your words complement each other. “Windows reflect light until it grabs the city / and shakes it by the scruff,” This creates such a stressful vibe, reflective of city life.

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  21. You took me right back to Manhattan! There are certain times of day, and times of year, when the angle of shadows and the light therein almost made me cry. The reflection of life in a lifeless jumble of concrete. You nailed it!

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