Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Suitor

Our house in Brooklyn is nearly 150 years old; once long ago it was right by the docks, now the docks are cut off by the expressway...but sometimes I swear that I can still smell the salt smell coming in on a breeze, especially on a summer night when my imagination is hard at work.

I like to climb the narrow spiral staircase to our crooked little roof deck, and lean on the wooden rail that looks out over the rooftops to the East River. Sometimes on nights like these, I think that Brooklyn is my suitor, a rough and beautiful boy pressing close next to me, whispering so quietly that I can't even hear the words, offering me the water and the windows all lit up with people's lives.





39 comments:

Brian Miller said...

you paint a beautiful picture of your suitor. enjoy the evening air. happy tt!

California Girl said...

I think I smell your salt air too. how nice to live where you are.

Suzanne said...

I love the photos. The words too of course. You know me and architecture. What did I notice? The windows! You know as an almost architect I love chairs, pencils and pens, but also WINDOWS!!! I love walking with T-Bone and looking at and looking in windows. Not as a voier, simply as an observer. Especially at night. I love the yellow incandescent glow. The artist in me find the color comforting and warm.

You're a wonderful writer babe. I feel as if I'm standing right there. Thanks.

XO

Suzanne said...

Forgot an "s." ;) Did I miss anything else?!

The Girl from Lokhandwala said...

Love the way you tell things....also love your favourite photo of yourself..youre like a bird about to spread her wings and fly to lands far, far away

Barlinnie said...

The passion inside you escapes just that little bit more with every wonderful post.

Rough and beautiful boy... pure Leah.

nick said...

I like the image of Brooklyn as a rough and beautiful suitor. And how wonderful to be in such an old house full of history and incident. There's something rather cold and clinical about brand-new houses.

Ronda Laveen said...

What a fantastic house to be in and look out of. Wonderful, touching post.

savannah said...

*sigh* as much as i love my house, sugar, this made me miss my old house down in the historic district even more! pure beauty, darlin! i totally understand the smell of the sea and how it seems to sneak in. we've always lived near the water, too. i need to feel/hear/smell it. xoxoxo

New Yorker wannabes said...

This post is so vivid...I 'saw' it! Thank you for the 'journey' Leah :)

xoxo

Pat said...

And does a tree still grow in Brooklyn?

Candie said...

A wonderful post Leah!Have a nice day :)

The Silver Fox said...

Striking, vivid imagery. But "once long ago it was right by the docks, now the docks are cut off by the expressway?" That would frustrate the heck out of me. Glad your mind allows you to rise above it.

Wings1295 said...

Very nice. Love the pics, too. :)

The Mistress said...

What about Alan Rickman?

Leah said...

Brian--my suitor and I did enjoy! ; )

California--I love it here too, although it's hard to explain just what makes Brooklyn so lovely! Glad I could give you some of the salt air!

Suzy--I love windows too--especially at dusk like this, when the lights go on...

Devil--I felt a little like a bird that day, it's the perfect image you mention!

Jimmy--you rough and beautiful boy, thank you for always being so encouraging.

Leah said...

nick--a house "full of history and incident" is an absolutely wonderful way to describe it!

Ronda--thank you. And thank you for stopping by, I am always so delighted to see you!

savannah--there is something so wonderful about old houses, but they are SO hard to maintain, especially these crazy ones that are over 100 years old--Sarge despairs regularly, and wishes for newer construction...

Marianna--I'm glad you came on the journey!

Pat--it does indeed, at least in my neighborhood!

Candie dear, hello and have a good day yourself!

Silver Fox--I think the docks were highly disreputable back in the day, and our house was situated in a more questionable section of a very fancy nabe...The waterfront even today is better left to admiring from a distance...

Wings--thank you!

MJ--I know, good christ, all my delusions are running together...help!

Holly said...

I snell the salt too....I love your view!!

Merely Me said...

What I wouldn't pay to have an iota of your writing ability. Well done, m'girl. Well done.

Jill said...

Love the photos...a vivid word picture too!
COOL!

Suzanne said...

Hey baby, thanks for the comment and idea. I'd email or call, but I'm too damn lazy. This is easier!

Read all the comments and they're terrific. My post didn't generate too many this time. Too personal? Too blue?!!! Gotta run.

You're a great writer my darling. We all know it. Oh, and you're a damn good photographer too! No, I'm not kidding. Happy Thursday beautiful!

XO

P.S. I've already started the sketch for the painting. Wow, I'm impressed with myself!!! ;)

Suzanne said...

Hey, I put the Jimmy Bastard post up. Take a peek. I know, too funny. And yes, I stole the book. It's yours. You want it? It's a keeper.

XO

Tom said...

this sounds like a very nice way to spend an evening...the sounds the sights and smells...the moonight..way cool.

Baino said...

You are an exceptionally visual writer Leah. I have no preconceived idea about Brooklyn, you make it sound welcoming and warm and exciting and I so wish I had a rooftop verandah from which to view the world.

dreamhaven said...

always enjoyed old houses. They have such a sense of history. Love the photos

C.M. Jackson said...

brooklyn has a life force and personality that is unique. I think that is why so many creative souls are attracted to its door. You caught and live that essence--thanks--c

Leah said...

Holly--it is such a great view, but one has to accept the constant flow of the expressway right below in order to love it!

merelyme--I swear that your comments have bolstered me to such a degree that I come back and look at them when I need a lift! I am going to collect them in a little book of affirmations to keep by me as I work on my book. And I'm not kidding.

Jill--thanks for stopping by!

Suzy--I have to admit I'm really excited about your painting...but no pressure... ; )

Tom--it was great! I stayed for an hour, long enough to watch the blue dusk turn to evening.

Baino--we love the roof deck; it was an inspired idea. I often wonder whether previous tenants climbed the fire escape to go sit up there!

dreamhaven--welcome! I too love old houses, and have always always lived in them. It's relatively hard to find very new construction in Brooklyn, much of it is at least pre-war, and we live in an historical neighborhood.

C--oh it really, really does. I noticed that one of your fave books is "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." That's one of our favorites too...

Suzanne said...

Good.

XO

Megan said...

The photos fit my song. The words fit my heart. Nice.

Mrsupole said...

You always write the best stories, and to say that Brooklyn is your suitor is cool. I would love to go on a rooftop and see a city when all the lights are turning on and then turning off. Glad where you are living is safer than if you really were by the docks. The pictures are nice.

Thanks for sharing and God bless.

Madame DeFarge said...

Lovely post. Love the imagery in your words. The crooked little roof is so appealing.

Suzanne said...

Boo...I sent it. Okay, I'll send it again. *Rolls eyes in head.*

Suzanne said...

You better be right there to get it because I'm not f******** around this time.

:)

Suzanne said...

Baby, let me know if you get it. I just tried again.

XO

Libertine said...

Old houses have soul. It's great when your eyes are opened enough to see it.

lettuce said...

i can feel and smell the breeze, lovely

Suzanne said...

You get it?

I agree with Lebertine, houses have souls. Absolutely true.

XO

The Clever Pup said...

I love the fact that your house is so old. Put's mine to shame -just 117. Lovely post.

Karen ^..^ said...

I miss New York so much. I want to live in a house that is 150 years old.

Beautiful photos, doll. I love that you love where you live. Good for you.