The City Planner (with Apologies)

Poetry by Keith Melton

                                    1.

Just a kid arriving at the Counselor’s office

green as gills, young, tender, just a lettuce

of a boy. “City Planner” – I said. 

City What -- my papa said?

He was a military man and knew a lot.

How to get in, get out, how to place artillery

to cover a tactical retreat, really

a different approach to city streets. 

Finally, “Just get a pension, he said”

and my dream in hand, like that, I began.

                                    2.

I’d check the boulevards, the parks, and the yards

all the Open Space we gathered on

the homeless out back

the crack and the smack

the factories by the river and the waste they deliver.

The demographics and opioid deaths

stream hydrology, and all the rest

the permits we track, the opportunities we tout

alert to probe any accident counts.

And what is this thing called Consensus, he asks?

To deliver the projects we need to advance

a way forward, to give The Future a chance.

To plan for All, and eliminate the dread

of a world without bees, let’s Go Green instead.

And all the budget issues we can’t ignore, that’s for sure.

So, what about Equity – do we do that too?  

Yes, of course, we do.

After all, we know the census demography

always stressing the goal of equality.

It’s city planning, and our goals are ever changing.

Affordable housing, units we can count

taxes and payroll that’s what it’s about.

And so, we ask, do we need a great park

a longer runway, an enterprise account

new projects to tout, or more roundabouts?

Yes, to all, but the mayor a Conservative

he loves the Flat Tax narrative.

But not to worry, we know every need

a 40-year plan, will shape our city, indeed.

It may be a yawn but sit tight, let’s begin our work tonight.

                                    3.

An alphabet train for me and you

a glossary of trends we wander through.

Farm raised catfish and Impossible Meat

back yard chickens, and the kitchen sink.

Hydrogen, nat. gas, BTU’s; energy density, it’s in the news. 

Videos, Simulations, Fiscal Constraint

tax exempt bonds to address the blight.

A stadium issue, our debt to ascend

algorithms and models to smooth the trends.

P-U-D’s, S-R-O’s, T-O-D’s.

Let’s start a caucus and get them talking

focus groups begin the chalking.

The 500-year flood plain, let’s leave it alone

just wait till next year’s Bomb Cyclone!

Our land uses tidy, our aspirations mighty.

Yes, the maps are ready to stick on the wall

a Dry Run tonight, but that’s not all.

My personal favorite, don’t forget to write

help us separate the dark from the light.

After all, if you can, we work to make no small plans!

BIO: Mr. Melton is a graduate of The American University and Georgia Tech with degrees in City Planning, Economics and International Studies. His poetry has appeared in Amethyst, Agape Review, The Argyle, Big City Lit, Blue Collar Review, Confrontation, The Galway Review, The Lyric, Monterey Poetry Review, and others.