I processed it hard, as soon as I heard,
My forebears being forced into labour.
Building the charming Paris landscape,
And the skinny NYC condominium.
I packed overnight and began to walk!
Jettisoned from the striking Eiffel Tower,
And landed by the stately Statue of Liberty.
Footloose on the orderly Manhattan avenues,
Open universe for the wildest of dreams,
A land of freedom for all, but my kind!
I walked, from the very bottom of the city,
Past Wall Street and the Financial District,
Distracted by the WTC, only for a moment.
For the contribution of my kindred was not,
Visible, in this landscape and infrastructure!
Went by City Hall, in search of kin’s recognition,
And for its overflowing blood, sweat and tears!
Teary-eyed, when I came to this little corner,
Where even harmless remains were exhumed,
Making way for the more vital city expansion.
A diversion that took the whole morning,
Had to cross the infamous Brooklyn Bridge,
Just for the sake of it; everyone was doing it!
Ended a mile away and walked back again,
To grab a street kebab and cheesy pretzel!
So much choice but I picked Mott Street,
Lackadaisically strolled up Chinatown!
Across Canal Street and into Little Italy,
Transverse Houston Street, and beyond,
Thenceforth turned left towards NYU.
Picked Broadway by chance, and marched,
Past 12th, 34th, 42nd, 57th, and kept going!
Detoured up the sturdy Empire State Building,
Through Central Park and its million squirrels,
Stopped only for coffee by Columbus Circle.
Rested a little before picking up the pace,
Through parks; Washington, Union and Madison,
Then headed for Times Square as darkness fell,
Basked in its neon glory, in the dead of night!
What on earth was afoot in this busy centre?
Felt free having no chained legs, and so I walked!
With shoes on my feet and clothes on my being,
Money in my pocket and places to rest awhile,
No iron-muzzled mouth nor whip behind my back,
A dignified walk that my ancestors died (for me) to have!