Southern Boulevard

A foreign place.
A place away from Manhattan,
the skyscrapers and the tourists.
The people here simply walk,
as if aimlessly.
Just as anywhere in New York,
everyone has a place to go.
The movement is always constant.
Never thought South Bronx would look this lively
on this rainy Monday afternoon.
Countless cars and buses line the streets as I
search for what is beneath the surface
of the life of this place.
The elevated subway platform is at the center
between the sky and the streets, carrying
different people to different destinations.
As I depart from Southern Boulevard
I immediately see graffiti lining on the border
of a blank billboard.
The colorful artwork stands out amidst the gloominess,
taking after all of the people in their desire to belong.

- Marianne Casas