I WAS asking for something specific and perfect for my city, Whereupon lo! upsprang the aboriginal name. Now I see what there is in a name, a word, liquid, sane, unruly, musical, self-sufficient, I see that the world of my city is that word from of old, Because I see that word nested in nests of water- bays, superb Rich, hemmed thick all around with sail ships and steam ships, an island sixteen miles long, solid- founded, Numberless crowded streets, high growths of iron slender, strong light, splendidly uprising to- ward clear skies, Tides swift and ample, well-loved by me, towards sundown, The flowing sea-currents, the little islands, larger adjoining islands, the heights, the villas, The countless masts, the white shore-streamers the lighters, the ferry-boats, the black sea-steamers well-modelled, The down-town streets, the jobbers' houses of business, the houses of business of the ship- merchants and money-brokers, the river-streets, Immigrants arriving fifteen or twenty thousand in a week, The carts hauling goods, the manly race of drivers of horses, the brown-faced sailors, The summer air, the bright sun shining, and the sailing clouds aloft, The winter snows, the sleigh-bells, the broken ice in the river, passing along up or down with the flood-tide or ebb-tide, The mechanics of the city, the masters, well-formed, beautiful-faced, looking you straight in the eyes, Trottoirs thronged, vehicles, Broadway, the women, the shops and shows, A million people -- manners free and superb -- open voices -- hospitality -- the most courageous and friendly young men, City of hurried and sparkling waters! city of spires and masts! City nested in bays! my city! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE DAY AND THE WORK by EDWIN MARKHAM FIRST BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 7 by THOMAS CAMPION THE NINE LITTLE GOBLINS by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY THE FLIGHT OF LOVE by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY ODES: BOOK 2: ODE 8. AMORET by MARK AKENSIDE |