The Anatomy of a Skyscraper (1022 hits)
Category: GeneralRating: 1.75 on 23 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by The Yellow Dart (View user info) at 2006-10-01 23:42:47 EDT
When I walk through your streets there's no bounce in my step. The shadows of towers loom over and dwarf me. We built them up as high as we could to be closer to you. Forgive us; our logic is not clear like yours. They are only an obstacle keeping me from you.
They stand tall and strong; stronger than any of us ever could. The sun accepts them, makes them gleam radiantly, and warms them with love. The new race covers the landscape and your attention for us, for me. Sure they shine and stretch upwards, the pinnacle of this world, but you forget that we were the ones that created these monsters.
Behind the scenes, within their walls, we are there working and working as if it were important. Each of us will climb their heights and look out the top window, hoping to see you in all of your glory; but all we catch is a glimpse, not enough to be satisfied. I know I am small, I just want to be noticed; but if I can barely see you, there's no chance you can see me.
Did you do it for attention too? Or was this all a mistake? Maybe this is the leftover in your perfect equation. The leftover is growing. It started microscopic and entirely unnoticeable, but it did love you so. The leftovers banded together to get your attention; still haven't noticed?
From sub-particles to atoms to diseases called humans, everything grows up as best it can and when it has grown to its peak it'll make something bigger to come take its place. We all come together to make more than ourselves in hopes that one day we'll be big enough for your attention; important enough so that maybe, just maybe, you'll start to care.
Starry nights are how we know you exist. Starry nights are how I know we're being replaced by the towers. We used to be able to see and confirm, now they have the best view of you and we're left in confusion. The lights drown you out and cause us to forget what this is for. I still crane my neck these cold nights out here on the street, but they have blinded me of you.
The towers have got things running smoothly. Every day a kink is worked out, a device invented, a job no longer needed: we're inventing and building ourselves out of existence. Soon they'll be able to walk and talk and know right from wrong.
I have a disease that I can't afford to fix. I used to work in these places, unaware that all I was working towards was a box in the street. My voice is now strained and has no impact on society; it's we that have realised our fate that get ignored because those closest to the tower with the most power prefer fleeting greed than what my unshaven face has to say. They scratch the building's back and it scratches back; one day it'll cut them loose too, then we'll be useless and cower in fear like the rats that I sleep beside.
The blue skies above do not translate onto the ground. It's all shadows and murkiness. Nothing's clear down here like it is way up where you are. We should have just built a big sign: 'Hey you! Over here!' and all would be right because you would finally see. You would finally care and I wouldn't have to cry myself to sleep in self-pity because of the pain in my stomach. It's probably just a small glitch you could fix in a heartbeat.
I feel like I've failed to get your attention. My time here is short, but I suppose I've served my purpose. I've contributed to the building and making and growing. We all need to grow; to stretch out our limbs to the heavens, wave frantically and shout: "Hey you! We're down here, now come lift us out!"
We assembled large slabs of rock and called them our own. We designed something else, something that wasn't human, to run our lives and control our direction; funny that this thing only looked out for itself. It's the superpower of our times, this capital crusader.
Now we are torn. Some will still swear their lives to its system, its buildings, and its promise; while others hate it and see what it's doing to humanity. Yes, the strongest survive in this fair land. When we put all we've got into the strongest of all, it'll keep growing and devour us all. The system is the strongest, not the ones who created it.
It rose up these towers and blocked us from light. It's building itself up and we are only its fuel. We aren't going anywhere; I'm not going to make it. I slump up against these walls and pound them with my fists. The blood pours over my knuckles and the walls don't feel a thing.
I will die in your streets, in these tracks we've laid out to safely speed up the eventual downfall. It's a pity when one of us dies; we could have worked years more. I don't beg for money or food. You wouldn't notice my small cardboard sign anyway.
Maybe one day you'll sharpen your eye. The day the world turns into a big fucking flashing light bulb. How many nuclear warheads does it take? Who knows.
Until that day we'll just keep building skyscrapers up until one of them cuts.
User Reviews
Submitted by morontian (user info) at 2007-02-10 21:07:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Just gotta thank you for mentioning "House of Leaves" on here a couple of times. Word of mouth is definitely the best way to find out about stuff.
Here's one for you. If you haven't seen "The Girl in the Cafe" yet, you should. You'd like it.
Submitted by ruthless (user info) at 2006-10-26 19:11:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Wow.
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-10-09 15:02:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
All I can say is congratulations for beating me in round 2 of UM. I think I might even be a contender for the Electro award this round. You'll understand when you see the story I wrote. It's laughable. I need a nap.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2006-10-03 20:57:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I truly likes the picture you described with your words.
Not the photo but the picture.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-10-03 12:26:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
To walk down a modern city street and know that one day every single one of these buildings will fall, and to wonder in what manner this fall will come about is one of the most solemn thoughts a person can have. It speaks right to the heart of the matter - human mortality and transience.
What kind of insignificant creatures are we that consider a mere 2000 years to be impressive and permanent? If the steel in our skyscrapers lasts that long, I suspect they will stand as monolithic reminders of a world gone mad with consumerism and excess - a more recent Babylon - totem poles of warning.
More likely they will be tourist attractions.
Submitted by The_Yellow_Dart (user info) at 2006-10-02 12:50:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-10-02 10:01:17 (#)
Ranking: 2
Looking forward to the next round?
_____
I guess. I don't know why I entered this thing though. I'm no good with crappy fiction titles.
Assh0ly, I agree, but the sky looked cool in this one. Oh well, you get the gist.
Submitted by morontian (user info) at 2006-10-02 10:32:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
If I ever start a commune you're invited to hang out for a while.
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2006-10-02 10:01:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Looking forward to the next round?
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2006-10-02 04:35:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
you should have used the Chicago skyline because that picture is seriously lacking.
I didnt read the post.
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2006-10-02 00:53:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Well, you learn something new every day.
Submitted by The_Yellow_Dart (user info) at 2006-10-02 00:44:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
A lot of my lot does indeed. I prefer proper english over the American version. Here in Canada we're pretty confused about it. Like, we all spell "colour" and "favour", yet use "Realize" and Rationalize". It's stupid and I prefer to err on the British side.
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2006-10-02 00:40:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I thought you lot used 'z's.
Submitted by The_Yellow_Dart (user info) at 2006-10-02 00:38:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
canada
Submitted by The_Yellow_Dart (user info) at 2006-10-02 00:38:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Is this the part where I laugh along with you?
Ha?
Submitted by viciousness63 (user info) at 2006-10-02 00:38:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Goooooooood.
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2006-10-02 00:37:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"Realise"? With an 's'? Where are you from?
Submitted by ChristPuncher (user info) at 2006-10-02 00:35:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I DONE READ THE WHOLE THING
AND FUCK U
DA BEARSSSS
Submitted by The_Yellow_Dart (user info) at 2006-10-02 00:31:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Habeeb this has absolutely nothing to do with new york. If you read any of it you'd quickly realise this.
Submitted by ChristPuncher (user info) at 2006-10-02 00:24:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
WHO CARES ABOOT NEW BJORK
ITS BEEN LIKE 5 YEARS U DRAMA QUEEN SOB'S, WALK IT OFF
FUCK EM AND THIER PRIZED NOW DESTROYED BUILDINGS
CHICAGO STILL HAD THE TALLEST BUILDING IN NORF AMERICA, PLUS DA BEARS WHO ARE 4-0 AND JUST BEAT DA SISSY FAG SHEHAWKS 36-4, WHO JUST HAPPENED TO BEAT YER GIANTS QUITE TERRIBLE LAST WEEK. SO NOW U GOT SOMETHING ELSE TO CRY ABOOT U BITCH NEW YORK CHUMPS
GO BEARS AND SEARS TOWER WOO!!!
( casts shadow on yer sorrows)
Submitted by SPECIALk (user info) at 2006-10-02 00:14:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Wow.
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2006-10-01 23:53:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2006-10-01 23:46:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Life101 (user info) at 2006-10-01 23:46:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Picture really did it in