My Summer Playground

It used to be,

my summer playground.

All glittering glass,

In the summer heat,

fountains in the parks –

sprinkling refreshing joy.

I’d spend my days,

walking by the shoreline,

traipsing through the parks

and wanting to embrace it all.

My playground, my city -

New York, you make me dizzy.

I left so many years ago,

but kept you in my heart,

so many memories,

of dear friends

holding hands

and chasing sun rays,

that sparkled from the skyscrapers -

surrounding us from above.

Picnics in Central Park,

trying to find the stars above,

through the brilliant neon lights.

Light breezes blowing from the rivers -

New York, you still make me smile.

In my youth,

all the discos,

waking to the red sunrise,

glowing above the tall buildings -

that reached the skies.

Hats off to you New York,

the city of my dreams,

no matter how far,

no matter how long -

someday I’ll return to play once more.

Bay Ridge, Brooklyn born and raised,

my roots are embedded in you.

Every summer the adventures I’d share,

seeing city kids running through sprinklers,

you and I sandals in hand,

running and laughing with joy.

Two city blocks later,

as dry as we could be,

the summer heat -

New York, my friends, and me.