The Metropolis

A cautionary tale

In metropolises,
No evening walks,
no flying flocks.
Concrete forest...
A cradle of criminal elements.

Tight grip of thugs and traffickers
On favelas... a strong net
A strayed foreigner: a threat,
A moving target.

Yet, sold as tourist destination
Painted in colours of fun,
and frolicking under the sun.

Author's Note

When in an unfamiliar country... do not venture alone.
Favelas are shanty towns.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

From my quiet solitude here in the coastal mountains, I often watch the various celebrations & concerts & marches (on TV) that happen in heavily populated places. I honestly can't imagine enjoying crowds these days, so I'll watch from afar! Your poem describes the many threats to be faced in crowded places, especially these days with such regular violence around the world. I'm just glad I did all my partying when gathering places weren't so crowded & risky! Especially love the irony you point out in the last stanza! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Mrudula Rani]

Through your poems I feel the tranquility of your surroundings. You picked the best place to live. The way city has been spreading here and the number of automobiles quadrupled, I have a feeling we are going to run out of space soon.um beijo

[Neville]

Wise words indeed & for one who measures time between one foreign holiday and the next, they are words that have and shall forever stay in my head and guide my feet.........Bless ya Mrudula

[Mrudula Rani]

The situation in Rio has gone out of control... here too we have military police patrolling the city. Thank you dearest friend for your affectionate words.Uma abraço

[Neville]

There is one on its way back to you........

[BlackPrince]

Your poem certainly expresses a truth on social and global issues concerning all.
Looking at things from various angles, I can say that all countries of the world all have a hand in the tourism industry, for it is a financially booming industry; and all promote and paint a beautiful picture of their respective cities when sold as 'tourist destination'. Obviously none of them is exactly keen to highlight the 'criminal elements'.

'Favelas' are no different from any other ghetto in India for example.
Yet I can't say that all ghettoes are only full of thieves and muggers and bandits.
Often because of a personal negative experience people can re-inforce stereotypes on an entire group or culture due to fear, hidden racism or ignorance.

WELL DONE

[Mrudula Rani]

Living In ghettos, makes people very venerable to all sorts ofcrimimal elements. Drug-lords take controle of theses places and wage a war against the law.it is like living in a war zone for them. Thank you for the wonderful review.

[Paul Bell]

Could be said for every city in the world. Apart from maybe Tokyo, where crime doesn't seem to exist.
Maybe the police shoot them quicker.

[Mrudula Rani]

Here the police are the targets of criminals. every week at least a police person is ambushed and killed . It breaks heart to see the widow and young children weeping at the funeral.

[mou]

how strange it is..an unfamiliar thought from a corner of world arises the charm of pen while an unfamiliar place adds pause to the steps..take care and enjoy the new time :)
mou.

[Mrudula Rani]

Last year there were 3 shootings of tourists,who accidentally drove into the favelas. two of them died. I think travel agencies have a responsibility to make these things known to the people who come visiting here. Thank you for the review. All the best.

[mou]

oh it's really bad.such a careless action which costs on two innocent people's life..hope everything will be fine soon

[Mrudula Rani]

We can only hope. Thank you .