In the past we’ve posted our fair share of posts on local music, book readings, open mic nights, architecture, spoken word, art openings, and just about every other form of art-related subject matter. But I don’t recall ever posting a poem. Until now.
Scott Bottoni has sent along a poem that positions Buffalo as the main character who must overcome seemingly insurmountable hardships to once again become the City of Light. As Buffalo celebrates the Allentown Art Festival this weekend, we felt that an artistic poem might offer a little inspiration.
City of Light – The Second Act | Scott Bottoni
All the world’s a stage
And I was queen of the players
But I stumbled on the hard times
And they tripped me up in layers
As the silver bullets
All missed their mark
My plight grew sorry
And my mood grew dark
But as my second act nears
I ignore the critics’ jeers
They die on my deaf ears
My blues just disappear
So you can raise the curtain
On my future tonight
Cause I’m stepping out of the darkness
And into the light
I’m stepping out of the darkness
And into the light
I’ve been eyeing a shot
That isn’t tied to a folly
So I can shake off the decades
Of self-inflicted melancholy
And I feel hope instead of malaise
As the world comes to gaze
My troubles are lost in the haze
Of a budding architectural craze
Thirsting for inspiration
To revitalize my worth
I reach out to the waters edge
And find the cradle of my birth
I can see my glories ghosts
They’re floating with my past
My second act headliners
Are just waiting to be cast
So you can raise the curtain
On my future tonight
Cause I’m stepping out of the darkness
And into the light
I’m stepping out of the darkness
And into the light
In long forgotten buildings
Opportunity dances
On top of dust and dirt stages
My renaissance advances
Stylin a rust belt soul
I’m authentic in any role
Got an iron strength of spirit
And you’ll feel it as you near it
So if you wander
Into my arms
You could fall captive
To my charms
And when you find the character
That’s hidden in my scars
You’ll seek my second act’s destiny
Which is alive in my stars
So you can raise the curtain
On my future tonight
Cause I’m stepping out of the darkness
And into the light
I’m stepping out of the darkness
And into the light . . .