A.M. Oversight
If I were God
and in passing, caught sight
of you, Manhattan,
on such a summer's day morning,
sparkling
divvying the waters
of the mighty Hudson like the rock you are,
in twain (in what else?) . If I...
...were God,
who is quite old-
bent over and not a little crotchety;
who long ago stopped having sex in any form
and who has only one child...and...
caught sight of you, Manhattan,
monkey's fist of glimmers and glares,
rayons and fountains
and finials of blinding light;
and your miles of highways
on which numberless cars
idle, gleam and fume;
and your banks of leaves, shimmering,
though only ginkos
though only locusts
and, not, say, the darkly-glowering, cloud-like trees of Rome,
looking down and out over all, I would say,
'nice going, Manhattan, even if only the handiwork of men,
you're looking good this morning.
But, you, little man, little barbarian, come back-
when you polished the Chrysler building top last,
see-you missed a spot.'
poem by Morgan Michaels
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
I've lived most of my life in Manhattan, but as close as Brooklyn is to Manhattan, there are people who live there who have been to Manhattan maybe once or twice.
quote by Ellen Burstyn
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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First We Take Manhattan
Leonard Cohen)
They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
For trying to change the system from within
I'm coming now I'm coming to reward them
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
I'm guided by a signal in the heavens
I'm guided by this birthmark on my skin
I'm guided by the beauty of our weapons
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
I'd really like to live beside you, baby
I love your body and your spirit and your clothes
But you see that line there moving through the station
I told you I told you I told you I was one of those
You loved me as a loser but now your worried that I just might win
You know the way to stop me but you don't have the discipline
How many nights I prayed for this: to let my work begin
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
I don't like your fashion business, mister
I don't like these drugs that keep you thin
I don't like what happened to your sister
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin (chorus)
And I thank you for those items that you sent me
The monkey and the plywood violin
I practiced every night and now I'm ready
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
Remember me, I used to live for music
Remember me, I brought your groceries in
It's Father's Day and everybody's wounded
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
song performed by by REM
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Remember Manhattan
Nothing worth a damn
Can be sifted through the brain
Sense dont make the
Man
But you insist on being sane
Dont take time to
Think
Or youre done before
You start
Theres no missing link
Cause its right there
In your heart
Take a closer look,
Theres an answer not a
Question
In that may-december line
Youll bite a bigger
Hook
Than the one you want to leave behind
Remember manhattan
Woody wasnt wrong
Remember manhattan
Before you say so long
How you gonna tell
If it stands the test of time
Theres no wishing well
That comestrue without the dime
Its a common curse
That the grass is always greener
No matter what you have
But nothing could be worse
Than to try to reproduce the past
Remember manhattan
Woody wasnt wrong
Remember manhattan
Before you say so long
Remember manhattan
What did woody say
He said, remember manhattan
Before you walk away
Lose your common sense
cause you may not get the chance again
song performed by by Richard Marx
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Manhattan
Summer journeys to Niagra
and to other places aggravate all our cares.
We'll save our fares!
I've a cozy little flat in
What is known as old Manhattan
We'll settle down
Right here in town!
We'll have Manhattan
the Bronx and Staten Island too.
It's lovely going through the zoo!
(Sing to me, Bette, come on)
It's very fancy
on old Delancy street you know. (I know)
The subway charms us so
When balmy breezes blow
To and fro.
I'd like to take a
Sail on Jamaica Bay with you,
And fair Canarsie's Lakes we'll view.
The city's bustle cannot destroy
Oooh, the dreams of a girl and boy
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy.
Ooh, yeah
And tell me what street
compares with Mott Street in July?
Sweet pushcarts gently gli-ding by.
The great big city's a wonderous toy
Ooh, just made for a girl and boy.
We'll turn Manhattan into an isle of joy!
We'll turn Manhattan into an isle of joy!
song performed by by Rod Stewart
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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First We Take Manhattan
They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
For trying to change the system from within
Im coming now, Im coming to reward them
First we take manhattan, then we take berlin
Im guided by a signal in the heavens
Im guided by this birthmark on my skin
Im guided by the beauty of our weapons
First we take manhattan, then we take berlin
Id really like to live beside you, baby
I love your body and your spirit and your clothes
But you see that line there moving through the station?
I told you, I told you, told you, I was one of those
Ah you loved me as a loser, but now youre worried that I just might win
You know the way to stop me, but you dont have the discipline
How many nights I prayed for this, to let my work begin
First we take manhattan, then we take berlin
I dont like your fashion business mister
And I dont like these drugs that keep you thin
I dont like what happened to my sister
First we take manhattan, then we take berlin
Id really like to live beside you, baby ...
And I thank you for those items that you sent me
The monkey and the plywood violin
I practiced every night, now Im ready
First we take manhattan, then we take berlin
I am guided
Ah remember me, I used to live for music
Remember me, I brought your groceries in
Well its fathers day and everybodys wounded
First we take manhattan, then we take berlin
song performed by by Leonard Cohen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Manhattan (feat. Bette Midler)
(feat. Bette Midler)
Summer journeys to Niagra
and to other places aggravate all our cares.
We'll save our fares!
I've a cozy little flat in
What is known as old Manhattan
We'll settle down
Right here in town!
We'll have Manhattan
the Bronx and Staten Island too.
It's lovely going through the zoo!
(Sing to me, Bette, come on)
It's very fancy
on old Delancy street you know. (I know)
The subway charms us so
When balmy breezes blow
To and fro.
I'd like to take a
Sail on Jamaica Bay with you,
And fair Canarsie's Lakes we'll view.
The city's bustle cannot destroy
Oooh, the dreams of a girl and boy
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy.
Ooh, yeah
And tell me what street
compares with Mott Street in July?
Sweet pushcarts gently gli-ding by.
The great big city's a wonderous toy
Ooh, just made for a girl and boy.
We'll turn Manhattan into an isle of joy!
We'll turn Manhattan into an isle of joy!
song performed by by Rod Stewart
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Dire Manhattan #3
Walking aimlessly
Past the sleeping terrain
Of Manhattan
At 1: 30 in the morning,
Thinking of a place
Where I could crash and burn.
The wind cradled me
And caressed my chaffed lips.
The cars were scant
And the smell of forgotten love
Flourished.
Alone, fretting in the dark
Underneath the stark abyss,
I was submerged in the pretentious
Moon-glazed concrete of quagmire.
I will never be the same
Underneath the Manhattan skies.
poem by Windsor Guadalupe Jr
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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My Blue Manhattan
My blue Manhattan
She's angry like a child, but how sweet
Fire and rain on the street
It's you against me most days
It's me against you, doll
Ah, the snows comin' down
on the cars in midtown
Stone cold in sheets with you all over me
Ain't that sweet my little gal,
ain't that sweet my little gal
My blue Manhattan
She cusses with her sailor's mouth
And fire and rain on the streets
It's you against me most days
It's me against you
Making snow angels in the gravel and the dirt
Crawling like a spider,
and I'm somewhere inside her
Too hurt to move, too hurt to move
My blue Manhattan
song performed by by Ryan Adams
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ill Sink Manhattan
Ill sink manhattan
Right under the sea
Ill find the sweetest spot to watch
As it goes away
You were so happy
With the things that you said
Like, hes my lower half, you laughed
But youre going to cry
A river of tiny tears flow from your crocodile eyes
Too late to apologize, I say, as flood waters rise
Ill sink manhattan
Ill sacrifice friends
I think theyd understand my plan
Ill never be sure
Ive got a message
So before I get through
Ill find your answering machine
And Ill sink it first
Burn your forget-me-nots
Admit that true love can die
No, I wont apologize, my love, just kiss me goodbye
song performed by by They Might Be Giants
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Left My Heart In San Francisco
The loveliness of Paris seems somehow sadly gay
The glory that was Rome is of another day
I've been terribly alone and forgotten in Manhattan
I'm going home to my city by the Bay
I left my heart in San Francisco
High on a hill, it calls to me
To be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars
The morning fog may chill the air, I don't care
My love waits there in San Francisco
Above the blue and windy sea
When I come home to you, San Francisco
Your golden sun will shine for me
song performed by by Westlife
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ballade: Bedrock
Laurasia and Gondwana pressed,
volcanic vents disgorged Earth's brew
and from the shallow sea a crest
of ragged, blackened islands grew.
Below the waves the sea's floor slew
and swallowed layers of ashy grist.
The mantle forged the mineral stew,
recrystallized Manhattan schist.
Green copper, gold capped, self-possessed,
crowned heads aloof in pallid blue.
Steel chests, attired in natty vests
attending street and avenue.
Art deco, choice of parvenu-
brass, nickel, chrome, aluminum twist.
Foundations; granite, concrete glue
recrystallized Manhattan schist.
September Central Park is dressed
in greens; oak, maple, elm and yew.
A bloated rain cloud bursts in jest
and hazed skyscrapers fade from view.
The washed rock outcrop's subtle hue-
eclectic greys blend amethyst
and glinting mica sparkles through
recrystallized Manhattan schist.
Beneath thin air where chaos blew,
the trace of lives in bronze persist
and trace of fragile bones imbue
recrystallized Manhattan schist.
poem by Diane Hine
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sunday Morning Sun
I sat by a lake this morning
as the sun crept into the sky.
The dew sparkled on the grass
and I caught a glimpse of a butterfly fly.
The waters shimmered
under the morning sun.
The ripples caused by a light breeze
twinkled as they rolled along
as I sat in complete solitude
under a Sunday morning sun.
The world was so close,
yet seemed a million miles away.
Everywhere things were waking
to a brand new day.
The air was fresh and cool
like God intended it to be.
The leaves of my writing pad
flickered as I started
to write down what I saw
under a Sunday morning sun.
10 August 2008
poem by David Harris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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An Open Letter To NYC
Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
Brownstones, water towers, trees, skyscrapers
Writers, prize fighters and Wall Street traders
We come together on the subway cars
Diversity unified, whoever you are
We're doing fine on the One and Nine line
On the L we're doin' swell
On the number Ten bus we fight and fuss
'Cause we're thorough in the boroughs and that's a must
I remember when the Duece was all porno flicks
Running home after school to play PIX * 1
At lunch I'd go to Blimpies down on Montague Street
And hit the Fulton Street Mall for the sneakers on my feet
Dear New York I hope you're doing well
I know a lot's happen and you've been through hell
So, we give thanks for providing a home
Through your gates at Ellis Island we passed in droves
Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
The L.I.E. the B.Q.E
Hippies at the band shell with the L.S.D.
Get my BVD's from VIM
You know I'm reppin' Manhattan the best I can
Stopped off at Bleeker Bob's got thrown out
Sneakin' in at 4:00 am after going out
You didn't rob me in the park at Dianna Ross
But everybody started looting when the light went off
From the South South Bronx on out to Queens Bridge
From Hollis Queens right down to Bay Ridge
From Castle Hill to the Lower East Side
From 1010 WINS to Live At Five
Dear New York this is a love letter
To you and how you brought us together
We can't say enough about all you do
'Cause in the city were ourselves and electric too
Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
Shout out the South Bronx where my mom hails from
Right next to High Bridge across from Harlem
To the Grand Concourse where my mom and dad met
Before they moved on down to the Upper West
I see you're still strong after all that's gone on
Life long we dedicate this song
Just a little something to show some respect
To the city that blends and mends and tests
Since 911 we're still livin'
And lovin' life we've been given
Ain't nothing gonna take that away from us
Were lookin' pretty and gritty 'cause in the city we trust
Dear New York I know a lot has changed
2 towers down but you're still in the game
Home to many rejecting know one
Accepting peoples of all places, wherever they're from
Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen
song performed by by Beastie Boys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Roses for Rosanne
Dust in the winds
Shadows walking leaving trails
Eyes cocking navigate scents meddle the streets
Nightingale scans the sounds of thousands voices
Breaking the night camaraderie
Little birds of Hudson Bay
Whistling the songs of Hoboken array
Holland tunnel a lifeline… splendid to many
Manhattan Upper embraces Manhattan Lower
Epic proportion in sync with memories
Jersey carats of gold got you in me
The Albanian smiths….
Once said “crafted out of crisp”
I kept your smiles at Camden Waterfront
Let it flow like Delaware River……entwined
Your touch as lush as Pinelands
Casting me away to Atlantic blue
Song from ‘The Boss’ reminds me of you
Jersey girl caught me red handed
Rosanne in my heart you stay naked
Our footprints on Cape May a landmark
You stand tall like Statue of Liberty whenever I embark
From Sandy Hook to Long Beach we walk….
With kisses sealed along the places we flock
The Jazzmen of Uncle Patti’s pub fills our souls…
With ‘all that Jazz’ magic……unfolds
Rosanne baby………seagull of Monmouth
I pluck the Roses…
As red as your blushes
Devout me to crushes
Time Square ceases ticking the clock
When the Roses pale as White Rock
Trembled into neon pieces…..
Injured with stitches
poem by Sulaiman Mohd Yusof
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Beware Of The Boyz
Its the Roc in the building...
Calib, Ramel, Tarrell in the house
Yes, live from United States
Brooklyn, New York its ya boy, Young
The Neptunes is in the house
As soon as the beat drop
We got the streets locked
Overseas at Pudjabi MC and the ROC
I came to see the mamis in the spot
On the count of three, drop your body like its hot
One Young
Two you
Want to, three
Young Hov's a snake charmer
Move your body lika snake mama
Make me wanna put tha snake on ya
Im on my 8th summer
still hot
Young's the 8th wonder
All i do is get bread
Yea, i take wonder
I take one of ya chics straight from under ya arm pit
The black Brad Pitt
I mack till 6 in the AM
All day Im P-I-M-P
I am simply
Attached to tha track like simpy
Its simply good young Hov' infinitely hood
(Chorus)
R.O.C and ya don't stop
Pudjabi MC and ya don't stop
Nigga NYC and ya don't stop
It's the ROC, It's the ROC
R.O.C and we don't stop
Pudjabi MC and we don't stop
It's your boy Jay-Z and we don't stop
Nigga, ROC and we wont stop
man we see young hovse oui
Ma,' I ain't gotta tell ya
But it's your boy Hov' from the U.S.
You just lay down slow
Catch your boy minglin, England mackin in the Netherlands
Checkin in daily under aliases
We prevail is sweet back home
screamin leave Iraq alone
But all my soldiers in the field
I will wish you safe return
But only love kills war, when will they learn?
It's international Hov', been havin the flow
Before bin Laden got Manhattan to blow,
Before Ronald Reagan got Manhattan to blow,
Before I was cappin it there back before
Dro', we had it all day, Papi in the hallway, cop one of the sign to give you moye
Yeah, but that's another story
But for now, mami, turn it around and the let the boy play.
Jay...
(Chorus)
song performed by by Jay-Z
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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This is what summer means to me
A warm summer day
without a cloud in sight
A baby bird
Taking its first flight
This is what summer means to me
Trees full of leaves
Giving me shade
My dad and I
Fishing in the glade
This is what summer means to me
Watching my daughter
Play on her slide
And how She will never
Want to come inside
This is what summer means to me
See how she enjoys the day
Until the very last
Just like me as a child
Long ago in the past
This is what summer means to me
The distant roar
Of a neighbors lawn mower
Unruly grass be gone
For ever more
This is what summer means to me
The smell of charcoal
And good friends all around
Birds singing in the trees
What a lovely sound
This is what summer means to me
© JPM 5/25/2008
At the outset, at least, all three groups had something else to recommend them, as well: They were headquartered 3,000 miles away from the East Side of Manhattan.
I don't know if I miss it per se, but I do miss the fact that there just doesn't seem to be any rock 'n' roll out there anyplace. Everything does seem kind of tame. It's even hard in Manhattan to go out and find a good band to go see.
Dawn in New York
The Dawn! The Dawn! The crimson-tinted, comes
Out of the low still skies, over the hills,
Manhattan's roofs and spires and cheerless domes!
The Dawn! My spirit to its spirit thrills.
Almost the mighty city is asleep,
No pushing crowd, no tramping, tramping feet.
But here and there a few cars groaning creep
Along, above, and underneath the street,
Bearing their strangely-ghostly burdens by,
The women and the men of garish nights,
Their eyes wine-weakened and their clothes awry,
Grotesques beneath the strong electric lights.
The shadows wane. The Dawn comes to New York.
And I go darkly-rebel to my work.
poem by Claude McKay
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Manhattan
Summer journeys to niagra
And to other places aggra-
Vate all our cares.
Well save our fares!
Ive a cozy little flat in
What is known as old manhattan
Well settle down
Right here in town!
Well have manhattan
The bronx and staten
Island too.
Its lovely going through
The zoo!
Its very fancy
On old delancy
Street you know.
The subway charms us so
When balmy breezes blow
To and fro.
And tell me what street
Compares with mott street
In july?
Sweet pushcarts gently gli-ding by.
The great big citys a wonderous toy
Just made for a girl and boy.
Well turn manhattan
Into an isle of joy!
Well go to yonkers
Where true love conquers
In the whiles
And starve together dear, in chiles
Well go to coney
And eat baloney on a roll
In central park well stroll
Where our first kiss we stole
Soul to soul
And my fair lady is a terrific show they say
We both may see it close, some day
The citys glamour can never spoil
The dreams of a boy and goil
Well turn manhattan
Into an isle of joy!
Transcribed by todd peach
(from this specific recording)
Guy from bath england sent me this more complete version:
Verse
Summer journeys to niagra
And to other places aggra-
Vate all our cares.
Well save our fares;
Ive a cozy little flat in
What is known as old manhattan,
Well settle down
Right here in town.
Chorus 1
Well have manhattan,
The bronx and staten
Island too.
Its lovely going through the zoo.
Its very fancy
On old delancey
Street you know.
The subway charms us so,
When balmy breezes blow
To and fro.
And tell me what street
Compares with mott street
In july?
Sweet pushcarts gently gliding by.
The great big citys a wondrous toy
Just made for a girl and boy --
Well turn manhattan
Into an isle of joy.
Chorus 2
Well go to greenwich,
Where modern men itch
To be free,
And bowling green youll see with me.
Well bathe at brighton,
The fish youll frighten
When youre in,
Your bathing suit so thin
Will make the shellfish grin,
Fin to fin.
Id like to take a
Sail on jamaica
Bay with you,
And fair canarsies lakes well view.
The citys bustle cannot destroy
The dreams of a girl and boy --
Well turn manhattan
Into an isle of joy.
Chorus 3
Well go to yonkers,
Where true love conquers
In the wilds
And starve together, dear, in childs.
Well go to coney
And eat bologny
On a roll,
In central park well stroll
Where our first kiss we stole,
Soul to soul.
And south pacific
Is a terrific
Show they say,
We both may see it close some day.
The citys clamour can never spoil
The dreams of a boy and goil --
Well turn manhattan
Into an isle of joy.
Chorus 4
Well have manhattan,
The bronx and staten
Island too,
Well try to cross fifth avenue.
As black as onyx
Well find the bronix
Park express,
Our flatbush flat, I guess,
Will be a great success,
More or less.
A short vacation
On inspiration
Point well spend,
And in the station house well end.
But civic virtue cannot destroy
The dreams of a girl and boy --
Well turn manhattan
Into an isle of joy!
song performed by by Ella Fitzgerald
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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