Archive of Our Own

Do you see

What I see

Here in Element City

I can name you several things I see.

I see 2 water-working window cleaners having their lunch break

One of them is talking about an element they met at a bar

Could be a girl?

Could be a boy?

I see 2 clouds hugging each other

They both looked sad

Could be a break-up?

Could be a family tragedy?

I see old Mr. Windsdale

Blowing up balloons for the kids

That was my children's favorite spot

I'm happy he's still around

Some aren't so lucky.

I see a street corner

Used to be the spot of the late caricature artist

He withered away not too long ago

His name was Joe Branch.

I see a long street

Elements of all kinds

Performing for their audience

They're very entertaining to watch.

I see an earth element

A clown to be specific

Juggling giant-sized acorns

How did they get so big!?

I see a fire element

Twirling pieces of fire wood

And putting them in his mouth

What an amazing sight!

I see a duo

One water and one air

They're both morphing into different shapes and sizes

What would they think of next?

I see multiple clouds

Flying together in a pack

Looks like they're running a marathon

I wonder who's going to win.

I see a competition

All the way from Firetown

They're competing for who burns the brightest

I think it's the one in the far right corner.

I see a window

From the city's hospital

An element is in labor

And a miracle is being brought into this world.

I see another window

It was an earth element

Placing dirt pies on the sill

I didn't know they could smell.

I see the sandy beaches

And several elements

A few of them are laying on their back

A few of them are laying on their stomach

You could smell the chlorine and oil all the way from here.

I see a stadium

Earth, Wind, and Fire are performing

They're playing my husband's favorite song

We used to listen to it every time at the skating rink.

I see the city park

A water father and a water son

Playing catch with each other

They remind me of someone.

I see the wetro

From place to place

From destination to destination

Where it goes?

Nobody knows

Except the passenger

Then again, I'm not so sure either.

I see the terminal

Where elements come and go

Through boats

or ships

I've seen several come and go.

I see the outskirts

All 4 elements

Working together as they look for fish

I wonder what they catch.

I see the garden central station

It's been abandoned for years

Due to flooding

Never take these warning signs for granted.

I see a married couple

A family of 3

The fire dad was teaching his magma child to walk over to their earth mom

They are very sweet.

I see another couple

One air and one earth

Sleeping together on a bench

They had been dating for a while.

I see a very young couple

One earth and one fire

He plucked a flower from his armpit

Such a unique and lovely gesture.

I see an old fire couple

The husband looked very nervous

While the wife reassured him

They don't walk outside of Firetown that much

They looked very familiar.

I see an old water couple

The husband looked content

And the wife felt the same

They walked these streets for all their lives

They looked happy together.

I see another fire couple

Both of them are male

They are very lovely

My son is friends with them.

I see a wealthy tree citizen

And a homeless tree citizen

They plucked a fruit from their hair

And handed it to them

Kindness goes a long way.

I see a bus boat

Full of little sprouts

From the nursery school

They have a great future ahead of them.

I see a blimp over me

Flying across the sky

Promoting the local airball team

Go Windbreakers!

I see a boat below me

Sailing across the stream

Promoting the local waveball team

Go Blue Dolphins!

I see an electronic billboard

Advertising the new boy band in town

It's a new form of music called F-Pop

They have the voices of angels.

I see stylized graffiti tagged on the wall

It reads

"Shasha r isha"

Gotta hand it to the bold ones out there.

I see smoke

Coming from Firetown

It smells very spicy

Must be very good.

I see a street race

Coming from Firetown

They're racing in customized hot rods

Very creative indeed.

I see a fight taking place

One fire and one water

The latter was throwing pejorative words at the other

I have no tolerance for hatred.

I see a water funeral

They're heading to the beach

The widow is carrying an urn full of liquid

This feels too familiar.

I see a water element

Specifically a first responder

Helping out an earth element

They looked very dehydrated

I hope they're okay.

I see an earthly sailor

All by himself

Sailing the vast seas

I wonder what his story is.

I see a lonely flame

All by himself

Standing motionless on the sidewalk

He just feels so isolated.

I see a flying wanderer

All by herself

Floating aimlessly through the air

It's easy to get lost in your thoughts.

I see a little droplet

All by themself

Crying frantically on the bench

I hope their parents can find them soon

They remind me of my little boy.

Now you may be asking

How can I see all of this?

The truth is simple

It's easy to see things very well

When you're on top.

Here I stand

On top of the skyscraper

Seeing all of this from afar

But I'm not the only one.

On my far left

I see a group of elements

Seeing what I see

But from a different angle.

On my far right

I see a group of elements

Seeing what I see

But from a different angle.

All the same

But still different

But for me

What you see

Is what you get.

Element City

Flaws and all

Happiness and heartbreak

Grief and joy

Companionship and.....loneliness.

Just like that

The day is over

So I head back to my apartment

All by myself.

I see the passengers

While riding the wetro

Some of them are tired

I feel the same way.

I see the firetown citizens

While riding the wetro

Some of them are active

I wish I had their energy.

I see the town hall employees

While riding the wetro

They're going home for the day.

I knew some of them who work there.

I see the passengers

As I exit the wetro

Some are getting off

While others are staying on

I hope they find their way home.

I see the water district

Several water elements are going in and out

Getting ready for the night life

Or staying for the night in.

I see a large apartment

Towering over me

It's rather spacious

It is empty everyday.

I see the doorman

Standing over me

He's rather nice

He sees me everyday.

I see a staircase

To a new visitor

A stairway to the unknown

To me

A stairway to the unknown.

I see a living room

Once full of life

One by one

They all left.

I see a photo framed on the wall

It's my entire family

From my brother to my kids to my grand kids

They don't come that often anymore.

I see a photo framed on the shelf

It's the Lumens

Taken from when they moved into the city

They have a life of their own.

I see a photo framed on the counter

It's my middle son's wedding day

And there's my daughter in law

They only come several months apart.

I see a photo framed on the dresser

It's my wedding day

And there's my husband

He passed away long ago.

The dresser was next to a master waterbed for one

A master bedroom for one

A master closet for one

A master bathroom for one

And a master vanity desk for one.

I see a photo album

Straight from the closet

I opened the album

There were unseen photos.

Photos of my parents

Photos of my grandparents

Photos of my cousins

Photos of my friends

Memories that past me by.

But there was one photo that stuck out

Only one

One only

And she looked very youthful.

For some reason

I closed it shut

Don't know why

Can't understand why

I went to sleep

Like it was routine

Then suddenly

My eyes opened

I see nothing

As I stand

In the dark empty void

Except my glowing body

Suddenly

She appeared

Do you see

What I see

All I see is me

Only me.

Or what is supposed to be me.