City Senses

The city has made me dull, distracted me. It has taught me to suppress my senses rather than to expand, explore, and strengthen them.

I no longer use my nose to smell the sudden shift in atmosphere or view the subtle shift of hues as the sky begins to darken to the onset of a powerful summer storm or flash flood rolling through. No longer use my ears to hear the faintest rattle of the branches or feel the funneling breeze from an animal carefully approaching. No longer peer my eyes to the intricate details of the leaves on the tallest trees. No longer dance my bare feet to feel and navigate through the different terrains. No longer light on my feet to not disturb the ever evolving and changing mystery of life around me. No longer scanning the distant landscape before entering the living sacred space with intent and respect. To not disturb the ecosystem that existed longer before me and long after I ever will be. No longer in awe of the endless beauty nature reveals the more time you spend getting to know her. No longer hear her lessons and wisdom through the silence, as if she whispered to me through the wind. I can no longer feel or connect to her heartbeat in this human city.

No, non of that. I’ve turned off my nose to not inhale too deeply the scent of fresh piss, feces, or bodily odor surrounding me. Shield my eyes to avoid eye contact from someone to release their unresolved and suppressed anger onto. Block my ears to avoid the booming sirens, honking, constant altercations, and complaining. There are no variations of colors in the sky or environment, just gray. Different tones of brain-washing gray and brown. My calloused feet have deceased as they are now wrapped in layers from the concrete. I’m no longer light as the breeze but sturdy as a rock to hopefully not get sweep up by the constant rush of the city always in a hurry for the next best thing. There is little to no patience or kindness here. Not like my mother, Nature.

I no longer burst out howling in the woods with my soul tribe feeling so alive and free. Instead I wipe the tears streaming down and keep a hand over my mouth to quiet the sudden sobs. And day dream of when my heart can finally return back to She ᨒ 𖠰 𐂂

Image by Morphisart