A pain-hope career (part 1)

A clanging foreign noise
drifts ricocheting to his ears
off walls and alley ways.

He, caught in mid breath
to discern the sound,
stops to peer through chain links.

Eyes coming buildings
just past the barbed wire.
"That district is a slum."

A collar of white leash,
forbids him to walk
on that side of the barrier.

...seconds pass
His thumb slips a top button
as his feet creep into the ghetto

The noise leads past
buildings lined with corrosion,
aged, dying municipal blocks.

The repeating steal chime
pulls him in on wary feet
through the arteries of a forsaken city.

unresting curiosity pushing him
to find a source, or a reason
for an alarm in a dead place.

FIN (Part 1)

This is my first entry on a series I am doing called "A pain-hope career". All the poems in this series will tell one story. So sorry to leave you hanging. I wrote Part 1 over nine times (not including revisions of those 9 drafts) to get it to this point. I hope you guys like it.

Nothing, but the hint of a wraith.

I sprint, but no one's chasing,
in clothes not meant for excersize.
all the digital voices won't stop me
I will get there in time.

To get one arm around your torso,
and pull you from the fire
because I'm already dead
Still in this dead world for you.

I left another airport for you
closed another door,
left words unsaid,
smiled with crying eyes
and turned the key again.

I bear a burden, right now,
of a thousand member betrothed
I cannot even hardly
I can't even hardly...

My presence is a faint hint
as I clear the building's sniper
so your progress is not hindered.
on the route you must pass through.

I leave another airport for you
close another door
leave words unsaid
smile with crying eyes
and turn the key again.

For now,
I stand at attention,
at a distance.
trying to still certain emotions.

dead, in this dead world for you.
Being a wraith seems more useful
than being a man
more prepared for the world to come.

FIN
well, this is new for me. A more personal poem, than usual, but my recent trip to Seattle was very personal. This came out of it.

Word to my homies from Seattle. I love you guys so much! so so so much.
Ryan

PS Nina, I am not sure if you are the only Seattle person who reads this, but if you are please let any of the Skate church crew (who might like this blog) know about it.