in the key of nyc
how many cities serenade you at the end of your day?
each day. there's something. someone. some instrument. playing into the willful and unwillful ears of thousands of new yorkers.
almost as a pat on the back.
a hey-you-made-it-through-another-day-in-this-completely-gritty-and-awful-and-marvelous-place song of victory.
whether it's a mariachi band. a string quartet. a flute. a man with his guitar. steel drums. b boys.
it envelopes us. even if for just a moment . . . as the doors of the subway car open . . . then shut.
the people in. and the sound out.
the city sings to us.
posted by cb @ 10:50 PM
3 Comments:
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You don't know me but your words always seem to resonate with me. Funny that the first line of a poem I wrote in 1999 about the city begins with that of which you speak. Whether it was actually a street musician or just the clicking of the subway tracks as the train blew into the station, there was always music:
"It’s as if the City is serenading me
With some sort of sweet love song.
Courting me
Pleading with me
To return…
To return and reclaim my soul
I left there once.
For now,
It’s buried somewhere
In Washington Square Park
With a Diet Coke and an Everything bagel.
Being tended to by Magicians and Madmen.
And the occasional cute girl.
I often wonder if it will ever be returned
To the body in which it belongs,
Or if it will just fade
Away and become
Another legend,
From another time
That people remember
And talk about when their friends come to visit.
thanks for the complimentary words. and the poem that certainly captures some of the city's allure. i look forward to your thoughts on future posts.
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