A Dimming Light

by Gary Beck / May 1st, 2022

I walk the crumbling streets
of a city in turmoil,
citizens rioting,
services disrupted,
violent clashes
between hostile groups
leave dead and wounded,
then the shock to the senses,
it’s not a third world country
but the good old U.S.A.,
quick to proclaim democracy,
slow to live up to it.

Gary Beck has spent most of his adult life as a theater director and worked as an art dealer when he couldn't earn a living in the theater. He has also been a tennis pro, a ditch digger and a salvage diver. His original plays and translations of Moliere, Aristophanes and Sophocles have been produced Off Broadway. His poetry, fiction and essays have appeared in hundreds of literary magazines and his published books include 40 poetry collections, 16 novels, 4 short story collections, 2 collection of essays and 8 books of plays. Gary lives in New York City. Read other articles by Gary.

This article was posted on Sunday, May 1st, 2022 at 8:02am and is filed under Poetry.