Victorian Gas Lights

By Wen D. Feng

Image credit: Wen D. Feng, Viennese Lights (copyright 2023); created from reference image. Image description: watercolor of victorian gas light on a street at night.

who said we needed

those victorian gas lights

we had the stars all along

they were well-intended

those victorian gas lights

softly casting a path

on uneven cobblestones

those victorian gas lights

elegant yet antiquated

unaffordable for most

those victorian gas lights

in gentle bronze repose

the silver up above

those victorian gas lights

shining from the moon

gold glowing everywhere

those victorian gas lights

couldn't find in themselves

dance, friends, dance away

those victorian gas lights

could give out any day

About Wen

Wen D. Feng (they/any respectful pronouns) is a psychiatrist and clinical educator. They practice with the I Ching for self-care and communication with ancestors, and strive to walk in gentleness. 

For questions and comments about this poem, please send them Coloring Psychoanalysis (coloring.psychoanalysis@gmail.com) and we will forward to Wen.