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Architecture & Engineering
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April 6, 2009
Poem to the Editor: What makes a city livable?
Cliff Portman, principal land use planner with the Seattle Department of Planning and Development, submitted this poem in response to the DJC's ongoing discussion of Seattle livability.
Urban Optimum
For each in the city there is a hum and a beat
To which routines and transitions freely repeat.
The flow and the ebb, with less take and more give,
Is the meter of living for work and working to live.
A calm, easy cadence connects home with labors.
No sour note commute nor dead malls for neighbors.
Uses, mixed local and small, supply points of life.
To them walk, pedal or twitter — modal options are rife.
Among other urban livability measures
Are ample green features and amenity pleasures.
Add a multi-cultural chorus, the polyrthmic part,
With civility and inclusion to give place a heart.
Cliff Portman
Seattle
Tell us what you think...
The Daily Journal of Commerce welcomes your comments.
- E-mail: editor@djc.com
Previous columns:
- In 50 words: What is livability and how can Seattle achieve it?, 03-30-2009
- Opinion: Supporting local arts, culture key to livability, 03-16-2009
- In 50 words: What is sustainability and how can Seattle achieve it?, 02-23-2009
- What can we learn from Cuba's economy?, 02-17-2009
- Want to be more sustainable? First, define it, 02-09-2009
- Opinion: Don't add new tax to pay for water rebate, 02-06-2009
- Opinion: How about intersecting tunnels?, 02-02-2009
- In 50 words: What is affordability and how can Seattle achieve it?, 01-20-2009