[POETRY] New York of…

 

I’m currently reading “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel. I’m truly enjoying it and can’t wait to finish. Anyway, the point is that the novel has inspired me to do a bit of writing. Martel has a writing style that I was tempted enough to try to imitate. In chapter 35, as the Patel family is leaving India, Pi lists all of the things his mother would miss about India. So, I decided to write my own piece about New York. While I don’t think it’s quite finished yet and I will most likely come back to it again and again for additions and subtractions, I thought I’d share it regardless.

New York of…

Of dog lovers in Central Park.

Of 153 square blocks of green surrounded by steel grey.

Of subway performances and subway beggars.

Of unity in diversity—Harlem, Spanish Harlem, Chinatown, Little Italy, Greenwich Village.

Of taxi cab drivers attempting to run you over.

Of absentminded tourists walking with their eyes—and their cameras—pointing towards the sky.

Of grumbling natives side-stepping around them during lunch breaks.

Of gyro carts, bicycle taxis and modern horse and buggies.

Of dinosaur exhibits at the Museum of Natural History.

Of monkeys, polar bears and giraffes at the Bronx Zoo.

Of hours spent in the local public library doing everything, but reading.

Of fierce drag queens, men in prosthetics on trains and undiscovered street artists.

Of slushy snow residue covered streets.

Of sun-reflecting skyscrapers.

Of twin towers suddenly brought down.

Of communities brought together by loss.

Of longing glances into 5^th avenue shop windows and their clientele.

Of metaphorical big apples.

Of bright light illuminating 3am as if it was noon.

Of a city that never sleeps.

Of a people who are more than unique.

New York.

 

So…. what do you think? Any good?

Did I miss an essential aspect of what makes New York what it is? If so, leave your suggestion in the comments!

 

Laters,

Tuma

[PHOTOGRAPHY] Sleepy Hollow, NY / Tarrytown, NY

Last Spring, I was a student teacher at Sleepy Hollow Middle School. After being let out early one beautiful March day, I decided to snap some pictures as I walked to the bus stop.
Some quick info about Sleepy Hollow:

This legendary and very beautiful village, steeped in folklore and immortalized by Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", boasts several world famous landmarks including Philipsburg Manor, the Old Dutch Church and the Rockefeller Family Estate Kykuit. Once called North Tarrytown, the name was officially changed to Sleepy Hollow in 1996.
http://www.sleepyhollowny.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=130&Itemid=194

Onto the pictures. I chose of few of my favorites to share. Hope you like them. Please leave your comments and critiques in the comments.

This was the first shot I took that day and I think a welcoming sign is apt as a first shot. Love how the sign frames the window of whatever that structure is.

I call this one…”Tree”. lol

Bend in the road. I like how the trees frame the road on both sides.

I wasn’t sure whether or not to include this. But the same something that made me take the shot, made me want to share it. It’s the contrast in the two trees. They’re so different and yet they share the same lawn. Some philosophical meaning can definitely be found in that. Maybe. Or it can just be a pretty picture.

Pretty building. Love the shade of red brick. And the strong looking trees seeming to guard it.

Pretty church. With it’s pointy end pointing to the sky. I know there’s a proper name for it, but I’m feeling too lazy at the moment to solicit the help of my best pal Google Inc.

Another angle of the same pretty red brick building. Again the trees. This time you can see all three of them. I think three is a special number…has power.

Yet another angle. I don’t know if this works well or not, or what I was even striving for. But I don’t think it’s too bad.

That’s all for now. Again, comments are always appreciated.

Until next time,

Tuma