Birds chirp as
light shimmers over this city of mine.
The birds sleep no more time
than humans do here.

Your ears
get no rest either here.
The noises from the street are always near
enough to reach your mind.

You learn to ignore it.
The noises are easy. The energy's harder.
It reaches farther
into you than anything else.

It, in fact, keeps you here
when the crowds, gangs, and violence
make you tense
enough to want to leave.

It draws others to it,
imprinting the bright lights
and long nights
into others dreams.

And no matter how hard you try,
you will never forget it.
It's energy will never quit
to excite you, even years later.

It is the center of opportunity
in the land with the American dream.
Life is bursting at the seams
here in NYC.