ODE to New York

I’ve long wanted to feature a poem about New York on this blog, and reader Nasir Soomro must have read my mind. He submitted ODE to New York after taking a trip to the city. I always find it interesting when people visit NYC for the first time. I often wonder – What did they think? Did they like it? And did the city leave a lasting impression on them like it did on me the first time I visited so many years ago.

Nasir’s words give us something to think about as we come off World Pride and head into the July 4th holiday. I hope you enjoy reading ODE to New York.

ODE to New York
by Nasir Soomro

Once I picked my feet,

To walk around the world,

To make a mark,

With all the colors of celebration,

With laughter, dance, songs,

I ended up in New York,

A city of a million dreams,

A city of a zillion dollars,

And a city of fatal attraction,

City that seizes iconic Statue of Liberty,

Sprawling Central Park,

Towering Empire State Building,

Bustling Times Square,

Standing on beloved Brooklyn Bridge,

All my troubles bubbled away,

Flowers condensed into fragrance,

The sun, wind, rain and snow;

Sprinkle fragrance in New York,

A slice of this heaven;

Has become part of my eternity.

Nasir Soomro is the Deputy Director of the Energy Department in Karachi, Pakistan. He is the author of the book, ‘Peaks and Perils of Life’ (English Poetry) and is currently working on his semi-autobiographical novel in English.

Thank you, Nasir!

Happy July 4th to all.  Here’s a New York 4th of July guide, including where to watch the fireworks.

And summer cocktails for festivities this weekend. Be sure to get outside and enjoy the city. Here’s where to have a picnic.

Plus, first trips to New York can be overwhelming. Here’s what I recommend.

What was your first trip to New York like? Did the city leave a lasting impression? Please let us know in the comments!

Posted on July 2, 2019