The grain silos
standing above the skyline,
keep watch
for returning prosperity,
guards from a time
when this was the
Queen City

Great picture, Stewart - a strong, complex image, these silos. The title a bit troublesome for me, suggesting the city actually burnt by fire, incl. silos...Tom

Stewart, this is really good, and very strong, as Tom said.  Great job!  and in a few words.

cheryl

Great image, indeed. I wonder if you might consider bringing it into the present tense "keeps watch" instead of "keeping," along with all of the necessary changes that follow. For me, it makes the poem more intense.

Where is the city formerly known as the Queen City?

stewart, a very crisp picture that captures not only a scene but sentiment as well.  i might make a few semantic changes, such as switching "stands" for "project" when in context of the skyline.  also agree with tom on a possible title modification.  is Queen City in reference to any particular city? i have this reoccurring thought and vibe of this being the worker/industrial city for the queen bee in a hive.  like what's going on here stewart! lawrence

The poem seems to want to go on, maybe just because it ends with a slack syllable.

hey everyone thanks for reading. 'Queen City' is actually a reference to Buffalo, NY.
Tom--the title is more a reference to the general state and condition of the city. Someone told me the census in Buffalo in 1985 was 550,000 people and in 2005 it was 300,000. That is quite a loss in 20 years and the city shows it.
cheryl--thanks for the kind words!
joesph--took your advice. agree that the present tense gives the poem more urgency.
lawrence--i see what you mean by 'project' working with 'skyline' but i prefer the way that 'stand' works with 'guard.' 'project guard' wouldn't really make sense. also the silos once being one of the most visible signs of buffalo's prosperity they are now a constant reminder of its economic distress. but buffalo being a very industrial city i'm glad that came across!
rick--actually i intentionally wanted the poem to feel like it could continue to carry the feeling of hope that most people in buffalo have. despite the city pretty much being a shit hole everyone i know there always thinks its going to come back someday.

Thanks for reading!

Stewart, enjoying this a lot this morning, how silos once kept watch for threats to prosperity, now for prosperity itself to return. Tom

Other Queen Cities in U.S.:
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Bangor, Maine
Burlington, Vermont
Charlotte, North Carolina, from being named after Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg (largest city in the United States with the nickname)
Cincinnati, Ohio
Clarksville, Tennessee
Cumberland, Maryland
Denver, Colorado
Dickinson, North Dakota
Helena, Montana
Manchester, New Hampshire
Meridian, Mississippi
Nelson, British Columbia
Plainfield, New Jersey
Poughkeepsie, New York
Seattle, Washington, used Queen City as its official nickname from 1869 until 1982
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Springfield, Missouri
Staunton, Virginia
Virginia, Minnesota

yes, silent (and stewart!), that reply a fine poem. tom

Thanks for the pick!
Tom--Really glad this is still working for you. I was in Buffalo again this week and as much as I am growing to like the city it still has a sad haze hanging over it.
Silent--Love what you did with my response! Thanks for the read and positive words.

Tom, I have also heard Chicago referred to as 'Queen City.'