University of Virginia Library

1  I was asking for something specific and perfect for      my city,
Whereupon, lo ! upsprang the aboriginal name!
2  Now I see what there is in a name, a word, liquid,      sane, unruly, musical, self-sufficient;
I see that the word of my city is that word up there,
Because I see that word nested in nests of water-bays,      superb, with tall and wonderful spires,
Rich, hemm'd thick all around with sailships and      steamships — 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, toward sun-     down,
The flowing sea-currents, the little islands, larger ad-     joining islands, the heights, the villas,
The countless masts, the white shore-steamers, the      lighters, the ferry-boats, the black sea-steam-     ers, well model'd;
The down-town streets, the jobbers' houses of busi-     ness — the houses of business of the ship-mer-     chants, 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 sail-     ing 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-form'd,      beautiful-faced, looking you straight in the      eyes;
Trottoirs throng'd — vehicles — Broadway — the women       — the shops and shows,
The parades, processions, bugles playing, flags flying,      drums beating;
A million people — manners free and superb — open      voices — hospitality — the most courageous and      friendly young men;
The free city ! no slaves! no owners of slaves!
The beautiful city, the city of hurried and sparkling      waters! the city of spires and masts!
The city nested in bays! my city!
The city of such women, I am mad to be with them!      I will return after death to be with them!
The city of such young men, I swear I cannot live      happy, without I often go talk, walk, eat, drink,      sleep, with them!