highrises

By Jasmin Velez, diasporican community organizer and environmentalist

city tower tall with power 
you tease us, squeeze us…abuse us 
yet we worship you; cityscapes of euphoria 

contemporary history? maybe 
we’re engraved in the memory 
before the olden high rises weren’t visible
we cling to you, the old you 

before gentrification knocked us all out
made us dust and rubble, useless 
not even a mixture for its concrete 

when did you decide we weren’t enough? is it
because we have all become hardened, tough? did
you think that meant we stopped loving you? 

on the contrary, you were one of the few
last clings of hope to make our marks 
now we’ve become those busted old tracks
a route of what once was — 
we are forgotten history in the making.

Artist Statement

This piece was written when I was riding one of the most important lines of public transportation in Philadelphia, “The El.” I began to really notice for the first time how the façade of buildings were beginning to resemble less of the Philly charm and tradition of bricks, and more of what I call ‘ikea-builds.’  With these changes, I saw less of the street art and murals I was used to seeing during my commute. I was for the first time consciously observing how the city and many parts that I frequented were beginning to physically change and reflecting on what that meant to me. I do not want it to read as a sense of hopelessness, because I see it as an awakening of sorts; it gave me the chance to really reflect on what was happening in my community and learn to better advocate against inequitable development.