Fog over Madison

By Sandra M. Ulbrich

The fog reveals a hidden city
Of mystery living in these washed-out streets.
The gray concrete may be blank and shitty;
My blood is still warmed by the secret beats
Of music, laughter, and the muse within.
Strangers ignore me, beggars accost me,
Never touching the heart inside my skin.
A falcon watching from a roadside tree
Brought to my spirit a piece of the wild.
Suburbs and shopping centers can’t retain
Me, the latest universe’s child.
And after my years of struggling through pain,
Surprised, I found within my heart a joy
Neither cities nor sadness could destroy.

Copyright 2000, Sandra M. Ulbrich

About the Author

Sandra Ulbrich started her writing career in high school, when she made up her own lyrics to songs. She soon graduated to writing sonnets, villanelles, and free verse. After obtaining her bachelor's degree in molecular biology/English and a Master of Technical and Scientific Communication degree, she worked as a teaching assistant, a science writing intern at the National Cancer Institute, a technical writer, and a proofreader. She is currently a lab technician at an enyzme-producing company. In addition to writing poetry, Sandra has also written a fantasy novel called Day of All Seasons, which has been submitted for publication. She is currently writing a sequel, called Fifth Season. When not writing, Sandra enjoys listening to classic rock (especially the Beatles), reading, gaming, attending cons, and chatting with her friends.

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