The City of Leavings by Chipka
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
The City of Leavings straddles a river; locals call it the River of Leavings, but on any map, you might read its name as Hli. The City of Leavings is a city of refugees and expatriates: even those born within its municipal boundaries carry memories of another life: out there, over there, beyond the Blue Bridge, or far to the west, where the Hli bears only the name written on maps.
It is called The City of Leavings, because the River of Leavings cuts through the heart of it, and the River of Leavings is the reason for the city. Pilgrims come, bearing cobwebs and nightmares, minor adulteries and tragic marriages. They come, on foot and by horse-cart. Once, they came by caravan, and the city still honors those solemn processions of elephants, oxen, and ostrich-drawn chariots. Pilgrims have always come—in processions and otherwise—to cross the Blue Bridge, and drop their cobwebs and nightmares, minor adulteries and tragic marriages into the River. To leave them. Everything is left in the River. Everything is washed away, dissolved, digested. And though they are free of their burdens, the pilgrims stay, freely. There is no need, they say, to leave the City of Leavings.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you're all having a great week.
Comments (13)
Way cool texture. Way cool narrative.
What an incredibly juicy vignette! There are hints of Greek mythology where departed souls drink from the River Lethe to forget their past lives and burdens. But here you have surpassed the Greeks. And the image is spot on for mood.
Wonderfully done, and perfect for your narrative.
Superlative and expressive !!!!
Wonderful.x
Breathtaking, Chip; the story is a masterpiece of the unsaid, and the image says it all. Well done!
Amazing work and writing my friend. God bless.
Fantastic image and narrative! Beautiful work!
Fabulous and intriguing both the narrative and the image
I love the light, the broad sweep, and the tasty details. Beautiful!
I love how you've depicted the city's profile. There is a almost mythical darkness to it, its lines manifest in only rather general terms. Leaving to each viewer or refugee how to interpret the city's promise to them. It's foundations look like any practical river community, but look up and the skyline becomes more mysterious or murky but also more magical. For some the city is a real place, for others it is more a legend or an enigma. I hope we will learn more of this place someday.
Such a beautiful image and I do like the texture you gave it :-)
love this one and your description going with it!