Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CITY, by EDITH MATILDA THOMAS Poet's Biography First Line: Not mine with infancy's film'd eyes Last Line: Thy singer here reborn. Subject(s): Childhood Memories; Home; New York City; Manhattan; New York, New York; The Big Apple | ||||||||
Not mine with infancy's film'd eyes To greet first light from past thy towers, That soar and dream in stainless skies, Nor heard I first thy chime told hours: Far, far from here my childhood's morn But here was I reborn. Not mine to taste the keen, salt spray, That tingling smites thy downward face That stirs the blood, that breaks the fray Of life, in street and marketplace, Where, wearied, none be soon outworn! But here was I reborn. Here where 'twas given to indraw The air of larger freedom, yet To know the closer bond of law, Here where Fate's lusty blows are met, But not the pinprick and the thorn Here where I was reborn! In million beating hearts (thine own), A one pulsed world-heart first I felt; Then, down upon thy paving stone, In thankfulness, I could have knelt, At one with allof selfhood shorn Here where I was reborn! Dear unto each his native earth, Renascent life thou gavest me, O city of my glad rebirth! I am thy native; shut from thee What but an exile most forlorn, I who was here reborn! Let who will count thee but as part Of this wide landI, in my soul (More in the gravure on my heart) Proclaim thee greater than the whole! I am thy patriot. Do not scorn Thy singer here reborn. | 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 |
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