I AM A NEW YORKER

A poem by Edward A. Blumberg

© EB 10.3.2001

 

I’ve lived in Pennsylvania for 32 years

BUT I AM A NEW YORKER

 

I am a New Yorker

I do not live in the 5 Boroughs or on the Island or upstate

I may live hundreds or even thousands of miles away

Or, I may live just over the GW Bridge

But I am a New Yorker

 

I am a New Yorker

Whatever took me out of New York

Business, Family or hating the cold did not take the New York out of me

My accent may have faded and my pace may have slowed

But I am a New Yorker

 

I am a New Yorker

I was raised on Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and Rockefeller Center,

The Yankees or the Mets or the Dodgers or the Giants

Rockaway Beach, Coney Island, Jones Beach or Rye Beach or one of the beaches on the Sound.

I know that the “END” means Montauk

Because I am a New Yorker

 

I am a New Yorker

When I go on vacation, I never look up because skyscrapers are something that I take for granted

The Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty are a part of me

Taxis and noise and subways and “get outta heah” don’t rattle me

Because I am a New Yorker

 

I am a New Yorker

I was raised on cultural diversity before it was politically correct

I eat Greek food, Italian food, Jewish food, Middle Eastern food and Chinese food because they are all American foods to me

I don’t get mad when people speak in other languages in my presence

Because my grandparents came to this country from Europe by way of Ellis Island and they chose to stay

They were New Yorkers

 

I am a New Yorker

People who have never been to New York may misunderstand what I am trying to say

My roots are in New York

My grandfather was a New York City Firefighter

He saw the Fire Department through it’s evolution from horses to motorized equipment

I witnessed it’s destruction on September 11, 2001

 

I am a New Yorker

My Firefighters died trying to save New Yorkers and non-New Yorkers

They died trying to save Americans and non-Americans

This is what they do

Because they were New Yorkers

 

I am a New Yorker

I feel the pain of my fellow New Yorkers

I mourn the loss of my beautiful city and all those who perished

I feel and dread that New York will never be the same

But then I remember: I am a New Yorker

 

And, New Yorkers have:

Tenacity, strength and courage way above the norm

Compassion and caring for our fellow citizens

Love and pride in our city, state and our country

Intelligence, experience, ability, dedication and energy

Above and beyond all others

Faith – No matter what religion we may practice  

 

Terrorists hit America in its’ heart

But Americas’ heart is still beating strong

Demolished the steel in our buildings, but couldn’t touch the steel in our souls

Hit us in the pocketbook, but we’ll parlay what we have left into a fortune

Ended innocent lives leaving widows and orphans, but we’ll take care of them

Because they are New Yorkers

 

Wherever we live, whatever we do, whoever we are

There are New Yorkers in every city and state in this nation

We will not abandon our city

We will not abandon our brothers and sisters

We will not abandon the beauty, creativity and diversity that New York represents

Because, we are New Yorkers

And we are proud of that.

We will never forget this day

“REMEMBER THE WTC”

 

In memory of my grandfather,
the 343 firefighters who perished on this day September 11, 2001,
and those before them who made the Supreme Sacrifice

 

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission. © EB 10.3.2001