Vignettes from The City That Never Sleeps

A girl and her father walk through the Met looking at ancient art while watching kids sledding through the window.

An older couple looks at two statues kissing passionately and the man says, “that’s us tonight.”  His wife laughs and holds him tighter.

A woman in a colorful sweater sits with a group of kids in front of a George Seurat painting and teaches them how to sketch.  She speaks to them in fluent Polish.

A little girl cries while riding her scooter through the One World Trade Center at midnight.

Two strangers bond over their shared love of Jay Z and dancing in the subway.

Poetry: June 29th (For Karl)

June 29th

With the fireworks came the news

You weren’t coming.

Not today,

not ever.

 

I traded picnics and glow sticks

For a black dress and brand-new waterproof mascara.

 

Shaking sweaty hands

Of people I don’t know.

Swallowing my tears with

Flavorless lemonade.

 

With the heart of a drum,

The stomach of a butterfly house,

I realize

 

You’ve left.

 

And with you, a part of me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– J.S.