“Poor but sexy,
You taught me what it means
To be truly free
Harsh but honest,
Standing up for its beliefs
In on-going protests
Lonely but collective,
Anchored in a community,
Is the chosen way to live
Cold but sweaty,
Cultivating human warmth
In its never-ending parties
Kinky but respectful,
In the deep shadows of darkness,
Asking for consent to break all rules
Changing but constant,
Evolving with the world,
While being lost in a moment
Lazy but driven,
Trying to find meaning
In a quest that never ends
Utopian but real,
Dreaming of an ideal world
That in each of our hearts we feel
Unconscious but mindful,
Floating in other realms
With the profound wisdom of a fool
Ugly but charming,
Beauty is to be found
Once we remove all the veils
Resented but loved,
Forever in my heart,
You, untamed Bear that I adore” – Pauline Marie Antoinette
NOTE FROM BERLINABLE:
Some cities get under your skin and never leave. Pualine knows this better than most. A poet, a Berliner at heart, she’s written what we’d call the most honest love letter to Berlin we’ve ever read — one that doesn’t romanticize or perform, but sees the city whole: its contradictions, its darkness, its irresistible warmth.
