Architecture of a City
One horse is what you need for a town,
two for a city.
Under a tree, in front of the (recently old) library,
two horses, McDonald’s out of view (on the left).
You can see the Architecture of this building
was reasonably modern.
A stain-glass window on the upper level, depicting
the rising sun (we’re the city nearest the meridian).
There was much controversy surrounding
this window. And now the building
has been demolished, (not because of the window):
they said it will be reinstalled in the library rebuilt
over the past year. And rebuilt – our Memorial Hall
and the Council buildings this year. At what expense
but readily funded. The tree that stood in front of the
old library building has gone, the horses
haven’t been seen outside McDonald’s in
quite a long time and the new library entry now
embraces all this space. Oh, yes we have grown.
But some things don’t change; children voices
ringing in new and old places. The horses won’t
be too far from the city, perhaps on the beach.
It’s the best of both worlds, Tairawhiti: “the tides
that are shone on. The tides of time, the tides of
our shoreline, renewed and renewing our city.
Benita Kape © 11.4.2018
Tairawhiti usually known as Gisborne (NZ)
The new library building is due to open later this month. I can’t get the video to open here but if you go to this face book page and scroll down just a little you will hear this lovely education session with the children. It has the words Matariki, 2017 on it.
https://www.facebook.com/GisborneLibrary/
And here the link to the prompt which brought this poem into being.
benitakape 
I like your story here…especially the horses because my son has ridden his horse through fast food drive-thru in the city! Check spelling of title…architecture 🙂
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Thanks for picking me up on that spelling. I appreciate that. Did you get to see the video? I’m so hoping it’s available.
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Yes, the video played when I followed your link 😀
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Very nice poem… it is interestingly sad how old things disappear in the name of progress.
dwight
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It sometimes takes us out of our comfort zone. Going in to the new council building recently I felt I had to traipse miles just to get in the door.
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What a marvelous poem you have written, and yes, the Facebook link works! I am so glad you shared this – it is poignant and touching and real.
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Now I shall give the link to your original prompt. Step by step I get there 😉
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Hooray! Glad of that 🙂
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Yeah, getting the hang of it. Got the link in.
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Yes you did! 🙂
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Jilly, I’ve tried of and on for a while now so I’m pleased at last not to be too worried to give it a go.
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I like the description “recently old”. Things change. I like how children’s voices seem to still be heard.
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Love the changes and renewal of the city through the years ~ Specially admire your ending lines:
It’s the best of both worlds, “Tairawhiti”: the tides
that are shone on. The tides of time, the tides of
our shoreline, renewed and renewing our city.
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Tairawhiti is the Maori name for our city. And the phrase which follows is its explanation. Many are lobbying for the change to the city name. Thank you for your kind words.
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