The City
by Tom Kennedy
Many people around the world
see the cities they live in in differ
ent ways. Many people see only
part of the city. They live their
lives looking through a keyhole,
when, by a simple turn of the wrist
and nudge of the shoulder, the
whole door could be opened up.
When I look at the city, I see it all
as pieces of a larger reality. That
is the way I believe it should be
seen.
It was a dark, winter night on
the west side of the dty. Theair
was crisp. Theskywasadullgrey,
without shine. The sidewalks were
dirty and appeared forgotten or
lost The streetlights illuminated
the darkness around me.
From my place in the center
of thestreet, I could observe every
detail of lifein this city. From the
houses lined up along the side
walks, I could feel a warm glow of
happiness. In the alleys, I could
see poverty stricken travelers trying
to stay warm by the open barrel
fires. Mice ran to and from the
stormdrains. Tiny pieces of the
city left their trace in these alleys,
and seemed to be holding a town
meeting there. Bottles, cans, and
garbage containers lined up like
soldiers, hidden, awaiting orders.
In some cities, a large “Big
Ben” type of clock stands in the
dty square. This dty also had a
clock. It appeared to be of superb
construction. As every hour passed,
it gave a gentle reminder of its
purpose, as if it possessed the urge
not to be forgotten. The clock
16 (M) J
49.25
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0.75
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38.62
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0.98
18(B)
28.86
0.54
0.60
1.24
now gave its beckoning call for
life to begin. The chimes rang five
times, echoing through the streets
as the pale sun roseabove the grey
cloud which enveloped the dty '•
Doors began to open, and signs of
life became present Men and
women began leaving their homes
for work. Children woke up for a
day of learning. Cars slowly pulled
into the streets, and the travelers
left their meeting places to hide
andsleep with the creatures of the
night.
\This day had begun, just like
any other day, in any other dty.
People began to mingle on the
sidewalks. The sounds of women’s
heels clicking and the change in
men’s pocket’s jingling mingled
with business talk in the air. The
sweet smell of money and com
merce danced in and out of the
revolving doors of banks and
department stores. Everything
happened just as if it was planned.
It was all as routine as walking; a
process of putting one foot in front
of the other; putting the day in
front of the night ’
As the day wore on, the mur
mur of voices and the shuffling of
feet slowed. Doors closed for the
last time of the day. People re
turned to their homes with their
children to eat their dinner and go
to bed. The sun vanished beneath
the cloud of humanity.
The creatures of the night
appeared once more, just like every
other night, in every other city.
The city again faded to a dull grey,
without shine.
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0.73
1.67
20
8.29
-0.81
0.19
2.04
21
3.44
-0.23
0.49
2.42
22
31.41
20.98
-19.43
23
72.46
-24.45
55.93
24
72.95
16.83
68.80
25
29.37
13.06
-49.49
26
54.91
-38.91
30.77
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28
82.74
43.96
52.00
3.45
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centimeters
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29
52.79
50.88
-12.72
Colors by Munsell Color Services Lab
30
50.87
-27.17
-29.46