Universal version
New skyscrapers in
Crowded neighbourhoods should be
Charged with stealing light –
Stealing sunlight, moonlight and
Starlight from those around them
12.31.15
.
Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) version
The new skyscrapers
In the HRM should be
Charged with stealing light –
Stealing sunlight, moonlight and
Starlight from those around them
12.31.15
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Copyright by Minh Tan on listed dated of completion.
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Notes to this poem…
There are two versions to this poem because it was inspired by seeing so many skyscrapers go up around the Halifax Regional Municipality, and how a lot of people in smaller buildings and houses around them can barely see the sun, moon or star any more. It’d be a very tiny fraction of the day when the sun is between what they could see out the window to the edge of these buildings, in the space of a street width the sun would literally pass through in minutes! The poem was inspired by this and I wrote it for the people of my “city” that is comprised of a small collection of small cities. That’s why I did not hesitate to use the acronym HRM that would pretty much only be meaningful to those living in the Halifax area, or have in recent years of this writing when it came into effect. That would be the second poem. However, what is written is generally true of what skyscrapers do to people, as well as plants and animals, living around them, so I wrote a more universal version that I want to be the official version, which appeared first.
Impact from these skyscrapers’ shadows will vary depending on how close the residential neighbours to it are, as well as how tall because the taller skyscrapers around the new ones built would only be partially affected, whereas something like a two story house, well, forget your sky view pretty much!
The poems titled Tanka, followed by a number, are tanka composed while I was not engaged in some activity during which I frequently composed poetry. That is why these are called the Inactive Tanka collection.
Minh Tan's Old Poetry 
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