I actually came up with the title for this poem back over Summer, 2000, but I couldn't think of anything to do with it. We made a day trip to Manhattan, which is a great idea and a terrible thing to do. I was under the impression, going in, that I might be able to spend a fair amount of time, perhaps four hours or better, in the MoMA or at the Met, but the closest I got (I should say we got, the wife and I) was the Met's store, which is hell and gone from the museum itself, but where, at least, we were able to pick up a brilliant Georgia O'Keefe print for an absolute song. But you hafta have TIME to spend in New York, because you hafta SEE EVERYTHING. Yes, you do. Don't argue with me.
So around the end of January, 2001, I was sitting around reading poetry and listening to Natlie Merchant, and this just spewed forth. 'nuf said. Except to say that "Skyscraper National Park" is Kurt Vonnegut's line, which I hereby shamelessly lift for everyday use. Vonnegut says New York City belongs to everyone. Yep. As always, Uncle Kurt nailed it.
Shortly after September 11th, I stripped this explanation from the page and added a very angry and quite profane one condemning the unspeakable bastards who did that horrible thing to our beautiful and beloved New York City, and killed our gentle and innocent brothers and sisters in the pursuit of a war that our country has nothing to do with. Sorry about that. I promise to behave myself.Pardon me while I go on here. I can't help myself. September 11th hurt, and it still hurts. But, as Billy Joel observed, God bless him, nobody's going nowhere. New York is still New York, New Yorkers are still New Yorkers, and I'm still head over heels in love with the place and it's people. So to anyone involved with that despicable act, I say to you: HA! Doom on you. And the horse you rode in on.