the city was beautiful and difficult on purpose

the city was beautiful and difficult on purpose.

the streets are narrow because the streets were always narrow.

the streets did not consent to your suv and your suv did not ask.

the buildings lean a little.

the buildings are allowed to lean.

the buildings outlasted four flags and a hurricane named after somebody's aunt.

every few years a man in a suit suggests we should make it easier.

easier for what.

easier for whom.

easier is a parking lot.

easier is a chain restaurant.

easier is the death of a place that took four centuries to get hard in the right ways.

leave it alone.

or at least, leave it harder than you found it, for the next person who has to love it.