First Light Over Highbridge, by Alun Robert

Early Spring, Harlem River, by Ernest Lawson (USA, b. Canada) 1912-1915

First Light Over Highbridge

close by Harlem River
first light over Highbridge
awakens the Metropolis, slowly

yawning after another long night
as the remnants of winter’s curse
hug roofs, cling to gullies to sparkle in sunlight rising
from the aura of Queens with smoke escaping to heavens
languid, pungent, swirling in morning breeze that
oozes through branches where last vestiges of fall remain
tarnished ochre and brown clinging tight to marled arms
scarred, battered to be consigned to decomposition
among mulch squelching in deep crevices of the Bronx as

hickory bacon crisps on skillets, coffee percolates too long
WNYC meanders loudly above distant aural trauma
tractors with trailers, horse drawn carriages to Manhattan
yet no boats sailing the Harlem, no carts on slick tracks
no workers on sloping sidewalks ice encrusted like the Arctic
just solitary feral cats, packs of stray dogs howling in unison
chasing tales of headless riders gliding over sleepy hollows
in a register well above audible
to humans not quite awake

as suburbia groans from dystopia at
first light over Highbridge
close by Harlem River

Alun Robert

​Alun Robert is a prolific creator of lyrical verse. Of late, he has achieved success in poetry competitions and featured in international literary magazines, anthologies and on the web. He particularly enjoys ekphrastic challenges. In 2019, he was a Featured Writer of the Federation of Writers Scotland.