Mike Bloomberg (1942-2024)
Larry Tisch (late) 1923-2003
Illustrations-James Goerling
Gotham’s Icons
By Ishrat Rauf Ansari
“my daughters’ graduation in 2020s,
Crime-free blessings it is- for a New York ease,
How fortunate we are and just as well,
success story, here & now- rings a bell,
Unsung New York heroes lived in ways unique,
Memories local, stronger reigns in here to seek,
Bloomberg and Tisch from debris to green,
Our lifestyle re-shaped to a Civilized scene,
Smokes ciggy takes over saplings trees,
air fresh shrugs off our lungs a comfy frees,
Stench garbage; it vanished away,
Dog’s do; swipe’n’ clean, we may,
‘Roaches; gone! most vanished in sight,
Rats- a challenge deal; it’s unsavory blight,
Crumbling City on Campus walls – an eyesore,
Rebuilt swanky halls -soothes our eyes & more,
Gungho life 0n our City to become,
Whisper caresses coos”welcome”!
City dwellers ‘ gratitude for keeps in debt,
our two forefathers, a promise we’d kept,”
One reply on “GOTHAM’S ICONS”
Longtime New Yorkers can connect especially well with your poem that alludes to the rough and grittiness of the city once upon a time, and the turn to better times.
A lot of people don’t particularly like billionaires, but Tisch and Bloomberg did good for NYC (despite some critique) and they should be recognized.
Once again, your style employs a great play on words, really draws out the senses in a visceral way, and is lyrical in its own way.
*James did a great job capturing both of these icons.