The Empty Streets | Teen Ink

The Empty Streets MAG

January 7, 2009
By Anonymous

I watched the traffic lights change
from green to yellow to red,
from behind my steering wheel,
from the other side of the glass.
And I drove the empty streets
that reminded me so much of
the empty hallways of your heart;
I guess I knew you weren’t coming back.
So I circled the block once more
hoping maybe we would pass
and I nearly thought we did,
but those weren’t your headlights
that I was staring at.
The slow and steady pulsing
of the biggest small town,
cars passing through lights
like my blood through valves;
missing you is like background noise,
like traffic outside my window at night.
And when I press my head to your chest
to hear the slow and steady pulsing
of your blood circling the block again,
the stars spread out before me
like city lights from atop a hill.



Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 78 comments.


on Aug. 21 2012 at 3:37 pm
k8husted PLATINUM, Central Point, Oregon
27 articles 3 photos 48 comments

Favorite Quote:
Bliss Cavendar:(Whip it 2009) The last time I wore skates, they had
Barbies on them.

It's just you.

InkWriter13 said...
on Jun. 16 2012 at 7:46 pm
Wonderful poem. A truly great metaphor/simile/analogy. Very effective, very real. An original thought, a powerful message. Great work on this. Loved it! 5 stars. :D Would you please comment on my poem titled the Girl? I would really love your feedback! :)

caylajoan GOLD said...
on May. 3 2012 at 9:09 am
caylajoan GOLD, Clark, New Jersey
16 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
Writers become writers because they are
comfortable alone. Out of that silence emerges
a kind of music that doesn’t need screaming fans

this is amazing, very creative! i can totally relate. love the imagery. keep it up ! 

on Mar. 20 2012 at 2:20 pm
SecrecyGirl17 GOLD, La Monte, Missouri
13 articles 0 photos 27 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Life is a storm, so bring your umbrella."

 i was a tad confused too and also loved the poem,perhaps that was the authors goal... leaving the reader unsure about where the peom ended things between the two

on Jan. 14 2012 at 12:56 am
Missundrstoodx2, Indianapolis, Indiana
0 articles 11 photos 29 comments

Favorite Quote:
"You never know what it enough until you know what is more than enough."

this is wonderful, and probably hits home for a lot of people. i know i drive around all the time with the hypotheticals, thinking about alternative situations, thinking about the stillness of life...the connections we've made and what we would do to have them back, to have them always...

Muzix BRONZE said...
on Jan. 12 2012 at 2:11 pm
Muzix BRONZE, Washington, District Of Columbia
3 articles 0 photos 12 comments

Favorite Quote:
life is never promised so live it to the fullest

I love this poem especially the last two lines good job keep up the good work !

on Nov. 9 2011 at 7:35 pm
nikkiee PLATINUM, St. Johns, Other
25 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
Its all for love, L.O.V.E ~Michael Jackson

This is amazing. By far my favorite poem on teen ink :)

reblep GOLD said...
on May. 16 2011 at 9:02 pm
reblep GOLD, Chester, Connecticut
11 articles 0 photos 30 comments

Favorite Quote:
the sun through my window, warming my skin...

beautiful, i can totally relate. 

Em28 said...
on Apr. 3 2011 at 8:11 pm
I love the connection between theheart and searching for this person that you love. The poem itself is so creative. You are a wonderful writer!

shizuka BRONZE said...
on Apr. 3 2011 at 5:59 pm
shizuka BRONZE, Brooklyn, New York
1 article 0 photos 13 comments
the pic matches the poem perfectly!

on Apr. 3 2011 at 12:39 pm
my.freedom.lies.in.free.verse PLATINUM, Tosa, Wisconsin
24 articles 0 photos 65 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into a void, and that oblivion is inevitable... and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you." Augustus Waters

wow! i wish i could write half as good as u can!

Babbe2 BRONZE said...
on Mar. 12 2011 at 6:12 pm
Babbe2 BRONZE, Northbrook, Illinois
3 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
When Life gives you lemons make orange juice and see if the rest of the world can figure it out
~ I don't know

I like this poem but i rlly wanna know wat u were thinking when u wrote it i cant figure it out

on Mar. 12 2011 at 3:45 pm
Beachgirl1 PLATINUM, Bellevue, Washington
32 articles 4 photos 178 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If You Don't Fight Back, You've Already Lost."
"Don't suppress Laughter, it goes to your thighs."

i like it, a little long for me, but very good

on Feb. 18 2011 at 6:22 pm
Liv_Drummer BRONZE, Mooresville, North Carolina
4 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Usually, old ladies tell me to find Jesus. Look, I'm just trying to find some chai and a good vegan muffin.”

seriously deep..

on Jan. 27 2011 at 7:53 pm
Zachary.S BRONZE, Dryden, New York
4 articles 5 photos 1 comment
while i love the imagery, just dont see how this makes sense. first, correct me if im wrong but the beginning of this poem makes it sound as though the writer is hoping to find this person they share a connection with, and at the end they write as though they have their head pressed to said persons chest, even though they stated the person was no where to be seen, in other words of course, earlier in the poem? maybe it just me but..

on Jan. 27 2011 at 5:04 pm
Atlantis PLATINUM, Naylor, Georgia
32 articles 0 photos 28 comments

Favorite Quote:
Because we are all looking for the complete definition of love (Beau Sia)

Love it!!!

on Jan. 5 2011 at 7:13 am
pnkninja11 BRONZE, Partlow, Virginia
2 articles 0 photos 27 comments
This is a great poem! I liked how you showed a lot of imagery with your words. It also showed deep emotions.

on Dec. 25 2010 at 9:44 pm
OriginalCarbonation GOLD, Naperville, Illinois
11 articles 0 photos 102 comments

Favorite Quote:
dream as if you'll live forever
live as if you'll die tomorrow

i really enjoy how it had a certain off-ness to it but yet the very same way it wasnt quite right made it all the more spot on perfect.haha! that takes some serious talent. good job, keep it up! :)

gargar SILVER said...
on Nov. 22 2010 at 9:26 pm
gargar SILVER, .., New Jersey
8 articles 9 photos 11 comments
This poem is amazing! The metaphors are wonderful and you are very good at articulating your thoughts. Check mine out?

on Nov. 22 2010 at 9:23 pm
DaydreamBeliever GOLD, Lockport, Other
15 articles 4 photos 140 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you live to be one hundred, I want to live to be one hundred minus one day, so that I'll never have to live without you. -Winnie the Pooh

i love how you pick words that fit but are not the words i would expect. 'like my blood through valves' it just fits and gives the poem a lighter, pprettir feeling:)