The Downward City by Chipka
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Description
The city of Ör can be reached in two ways: by surface or by tunnel. The western flank of the city is a reinforced shoreline, dotted here and there and there with docks and shipyards that prickle with cranes. Any sailor may look eastward and see a shoreline haze, but no city at all. Train divers always see the city as a set of vast arches in a cavern of stalactites; these arches are continually-bathed in the glow of spotlights. Ör is a downward city.
Though crowded with towers, they are invisible from sea and from air, because each of these towers extends deep into the bowels of the earth. Ör is city where the midday sun never reaches its depths; the roof of the city is veldt-land and forest, though any traveler, any resident, and any lost wanderer may stumble across huts on motorized stilts: whole villages of such nomadic huts strolling the perimeter of Ör, never straying beyond the invisible membrane of the city’s borders. Only the depths of the city remain motionless, though its labyrinth cañons buzz with zeppelins and heated-air balloons. They moor themselves to balconies and to piers, spilling travelers into the walls of the city, or accepting travelers bound for elsewhere. More than three million people live in Ör, all going about their business at all times of day. The cafés are always crowded. The parks are loud with the chatter of children; at all hours, lovers stroll—hand in hand—through the aquaria, peering at anemones. The streets buzz and hum with traffic, but one may only ever see a single pedestrian on foot; no one can explain this phenomenon. Ör is filled with pedestrians, but always, always, and always, only one of them is ever visible at any given time.
It takes a long time to reach Ör.
It takes a long time to leave.
*
Maybe I’ve been to Ör, which might explain my absence here. Trips to that city aren’t quick.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and from the looks of things, I have a lot of catching up to do.
Comments (9)
Faemike55
Welcome home my friend! it has been too bloody long (in my opinion) since I've seen anything from you! I miss your art and writing. This is excellent and cool
claude19
a splendid combe back...splendid story...splendid realization !!! what a poetic moment for my mind !!! Thanks dear ArtFriend !!!
Mondwin
Wunderbares bild lieber freund!!!!Bravissimo!V:DDD.Gruß Whylma
giulband
A wonderful interpretation of the feelings of loneliness and inner confusion that often the places where we live give us. The atmosphere is creepy and obsessive scary and well represents the mood of the society in which we live.
kgb224
Good to see you back here my friend. Welcome back my friend. Amazing work. God bless.
rajib
Nice !
treasureprints
Fabulous work, my friend!
auntietk
Oooooohh! Well, wherever (and whenever) you've been, you haven't lost your touch! This is superb work. I would love it if your presence were the beginning of something long and productive! I've missed you!
KatesFriend
I agree with auntietk, you can really spin a total alien and wonderfully sensible world with just a few paragraphs. I seem to hear the buzz of Ör and its no doubt vibrant colours (if colours can be heard) beneath my feet right now. I wonder what drove the founders of Ör to chose a 'downward' philosophy for their city in the first place. And I just love the idea of nomadic "huts on motorized stilts", now that would be a sight to see. I also wonder just what their relationship is (if any) with Ör.
And great artwork as always. Very glad to see that Ör has a tram. No city can be a true city without at least one tram line. Though in Toronto (and New Orleans) they're called streetcars.