some cities

December 2015

 

some cities were founded by chance

comfortably reclined against an old meander

a protective hill, a vantage point

crossroads for conflict and profit

 

some simply piled up

on the continuous rhythm of human tides

layered atop one another

in time

 

others were projected

as simple lines, drawn on bare grounds

with stick or sword

following precise instruction manuals

 

these towns are dreams of order

grids and radii, full and void

carefully described in words

before landing on uncertainty

 

beyond their remarkable growth

cities based on ordinances and survey systems

cadastral divisions and codes

remain written text and sketch, against the ineffable

 

[caption id="attachment_5600" align="aligncenter" width="900"]Caracas, 1578

 

Jorge Mejia Hernandez