Manhattan Poems - Poems about Manhattan

(A Christmas vacation vignette) Lisa and I choppered onto Manhattan Island yesterday morning. We’d both felt toasted—so we took naps—and yay! We awoke recharged. Later that evening, Lisa and I were at the ‘Elsie’ Rooftop Bar, in Manhattan, waiting for Lisa’s boyfriend, David. Ok, man-friend? More age appropriate I suppose, he’s 27, but that description doesn’t have the...

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One way to tell a tourist In the New York City scene Is if someone on a corner waits Until the light turns green. For natives look both ways, of course, And if no traffic’s there, They cross against the light or else Mid-block, without a care. This always was illegal, yet We locals would insist That the law was so ignored it seemed It didn’t...

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Paris is so beautiful, that it’s emotional, like the red tile roofs of Rome, or the Kenroku-en gardens of Japan. It’s a relatively large world. Whenever you can fly over an ocean you feel limitless, and godly, like the world is there for you, on demand. Speaking of God-like views, I’m headed to Lisa’s (parents) Manhattan highrise again this year for Thanksgiving—six, very-long days from...

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TS Eliot said, “Paris is a strong stimulant.” It is - but it has nothing on Manhattan. If Paris is a Café Crème espresso at a café-en-terrasse under the stars. Manhattan is a ‘Black Tie Bawls’ cocktail at The Crown bar (the skyline!). We were going to relax - in Manhattan, instead, keep those seat belts fastened. Lisa said, one night,...

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Students everywhere feel a close relationship with summer. It develops early and you never lose it. It’s durable. Le’ts poeticize.. It was a youthful summer of unblemished mirth. In play, our youthful hours were freely spent. We bore such idleness - we were indulgent. Until Lisa confessed, she was less so content and longed desperately for a ‘wholesome reunion’ with her...

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Their meeting, first time, was merry. The flip from her lips, bit airy. Her drink could sink ships. She takes sip and quips, “Would you like to eat my cherry?” ...

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Ever snorted cocaine? I watched some partiers snort cocaine last night, in a dark, Manhattan nightclub corner celebration. But I’ve never crossed that line. The white line. When offered some, with unctuous camaraderie, I shrugged and said, “No, sorry, I’m allergic.” What are you supposed to say, “Crack is whack,” or “I prefer my coke with rum and...

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*** At Age Seventeen *** At 17, the wooden heels of my boots echoed My audacious immaturity along my entire way exploring Manhattan’s south-end area. Its long blocks, I routed For the reason of simply seeing. In the route I took through that then unknown section, My young lack of any preparation was foolishly profound, Although...

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Leong's watching TikTok on her laptop (as always) and she asks Lisa (an NYC girl) “Are you familiar with the the “downtown girl” aesthetic?” Lisa’s dismissive, “Yeah, it just looks like Urban Outfitters grunge to me.” Leong explains, “It includes headphones and it’s supposed to be a Lower Manhattan style.” “Yeah,” Lisa snorts, “Because Greenwich Village and the...

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Manhattan By LoLa The neverending cascade of looming city skylines Towering strangers captures her gaze and her hands Attempts to lift the veil from abandoned timelines Leaves her breathless where A Phantom Hurricane stands Relenting to the light from the cracks in her heart Beating to frequencies of screams in the city A lifeless stare where frenetic signals depart Swelling with the blood of...

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Merciless movement Atonal antipathy Nonsensical noise clarinet crescendo soaring above the collided cityscape Harried hordes Aggravating acrimony Terrifying tumult piano playing plaintively over the primal phantasmagoria Torrid traffic Alienated aliens Nihilistic neon soaring strings singing through the striking scenery...

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Upon my asking a lone Lenape what happened to their tribal home; so soulful that he barely told me the tragic tale of how it had gone. The white man thought he coyly took it a thing that he cannot ever own. It's lost and changed, cracked crooked what will happen next, remains unknown. Our sense of self, of our longhouse fires this "hilly...

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Big Apple Bullies It was a very, humid summer day. Too hot to any god to pray. So being hot, tired, hungry and all~ We decided to followed AOC's...

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Eight million people living here Yet on my morning walk, Deserted streets provided Not a thing at which to gawk. Behind each window there were souls In various routines – Asleep or in the shower Or engaged in breakfast scenes. I marveled at the emptiness In such a busy place Where no one moseys, but proceeds At a frenetic pace. Yet not in early morning For it...

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The sirens of Manhattan Make a sound we always hear, Alerting all pedestrians And traffic to stay clear. It’s background noise that city folk Don’t pay attention to, The urban version of a field Of cows all saying, “Moo.” It doesn’t matter if the sound’s From ambulance or police Or fire engine; in a minute, Urgency will cease. New Yorkers will not raise their heads To note the...

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