Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MANNAHATTA, by WALT WHITMAN Recitation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I was asking for something specific and perfect for my city Last Line: City nested in bays! My city! Subject(s): Architecture & Architects; New York City; Manhattan; New York, New York; The Big Apple | ||||||||
I WAS asking for something specific and perfect for my city, Whereupon lo! upsprang the aboriginal name. Now I see what there is in a name, a word, liquid, sane, unruly, musical, self-sufficient, I see that the world of my city is that word from of old, Because I see that word nested in nests of water- bays, superb Rich, hemmed thick all around with sail ships and steam ships, 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, towards sundown, The flowing sea-currents, the little islands, larger adjoining islands, the heights, the villas, The countless masts, the white shore-streamers the lighters, the ferry-boats, the black sea-steamers well-modelled, The down-town streets, the jobbers' houses of business, the houses of business of the ship- merchants 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 sailing 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-formed, beautiful-faced, looking you straight in the eyes, Trottoirs thronged, vehicles, Broadway, the women, the shops and shows, A million people -- manners free and superb -- open voices -- hospitality -- the most courageous and friendly young men, City of hurried and sparkling waters! city of spires and masts! City nested in bays! my city! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...READY FOR THE CANNERY by BERTON BRALEY TRANTER IN AMERICA by AUGUST KLEINZAHLER MEETING YOU AT THE PIERS by KENNETH KOCH FEBRUARY EVENING IN NEW YORK by DENISE LEVERTOV ON 52ND STREET by PHILIP LEVINE THREE POEMS FOR NEW YORK by JOSEPHINE MILES NEW YORK SUBWAY by HILDA MORLEY A BROADWAY PAGEANT by WALT WHITMAN |
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