To New York

Dedicated to the city I was born in, and why I left it.

I'm sorry but I could never love you now
After I have seen your true colors and
Your wrath which others mark up as your glory;
They spew that they are stronger, able to
Take the scrutiny you expose upon
Your residents, like some disastrous plague,
But it is no real pleasure to survive
The disease if you're still subject to the symptoms,
And this is why I have moved away.

I walk amidst the streets of Manhattan
Past a quarry of ducks you call your own,
Business men, ducks in suits, quacking away
With profanity and judgment of their
Peers; they sure are superior, they think.
And in a dive on 53rd Street, I
Vanish into insignificance as one
Duck flies in for his feeding, alcohol
In a "dress shirt" by Ed Hardy and shoes
By Louis Vitton, a walking rap song!
To me, he is comical in his skin.

But now that I am gone, I see you
In the faces of the others out here,
They long to be amongst the ducks
Soaring through what they consider endless skies,
And I don't have the courage to say its
All a lie! For your ducks cannot fly high,
They don't wish to; they live beside a lake
That's more plentiful than anywhere else,
But they only assume this because they
Have never really left! But I have now,
And your ignorance, to me, is comical.

Author's Note

Definitely not a finished product but I just wanted to get this one up. PS, if you have never been to New York, A New York accent has been compared to a duck's quack...hope that helps the imagery. Let me know what you think.

Reviews

[Clarisse Nanoit]

I love this also! You are very talented. Your metaphor here is quite interesting, and it works well. Maybe all they really want to be is geese, but deep down they know they are inadequate. This reminds me of a theme of Catcher In The Rye--if you've never read it you should--where Holden Caulfield asks random people throughout the book where the ducks from the pond in Central Park go when the pond is frozen. Interesting, if not intentional, parallel. Great piece!
KH

[Alexandra Redgate]

This whole poem had a nice flow. I really liked it. I have never been to New York but I guess the city is not for everyone.

[FireWoman]

The ducks in the parts wear Levi jeans and Metallica shirts and drive monster trucks! =)

I believe, for the most part, that we are into a place that is there to teach us a lesson. Albeit, good or bad, I like how you write, very honestly.

[shedevil]

hay, im a new yorker, full bread baby! and im in no way a disgusting bird!! But i do like you poem it expresses alot of your opinions and is blunt which i love.
P.S. "quack, quack"

[DalainaRenee]

I liked New York. But it all depends on the trip and the person! And you show anything can happen where ever you may go!

[Margaret Marie Hubbard]

Haha! A duck's quack, I've never heard that before! This was excellent!

[JelliFyshKissUs]

Stunning imagery with the ducks and their quacks and pecking and feeding. To tell you the truth, I don't think I would make in New York. It's like an island of its own. Very prideful. But the heartfelt regurgitation of feeling --whether positive or negative-- is apparent and strong in its delivery. Excellent work.

[Liza]

nyc residents tend to have that upiddy attitude because they have bought into the media fed illusion ~ but i'm grateful for the first 27 years living in proximity to it ~ i made it there - i will make it anywhere lol

[AlisshalovesBrandon]

i really really like it. i love how it tells a story and expresses. very good:)