An Ode to New York

Homeland

It’s hard to be the one leaving and the one being left.
I don’t know how else to say it: I don’t want to leave.
The street corners that said hello.
The streetlights I always ignored.
The cars I fought with when crossing the street.
The rats running across.

Some say I’m crazy and I know that I am.
But where my heart lies， where I want to be，
it’s just there and nowhere else.
You’ve captured me and have not let me go.
Will I be released from this magic spell?
Or is it a drug? I don’t even know.

I just want to be there with you.
My love， I want to be with you.

Where I am now，
The place is sweet. The air’s fragant.
It’s a good place for me and for all.
But I can’t help it;
I want to be with my love， not my trusted friend.
I want to be with you， my love.
And people say I’m crazy.

“How can you talk about a city like it’s a person? You’re nuts.”
“You’re not there right now， cope with it.”
“You’ll get to love the place where you’re now.
In some time， you’ll be saying the same thing about over there as you were saying about over here.”
“Really? You think so?”
“Yeah， I’m sure.”

The city is flowing with lights， and information.
All is out.
Whatever’s happening is out in the open.
The loop is open to new people.
The “in” crowd is everyone who wants to be in the “in.”
No need to prove yourself， your curiosity proves yourself.

I miss you badly. I really really miss you.
I didn’t want to leave.
My soul still hasn’t left.
My holy land， I know it’s supposed to be Israel.
But for me， it’s New York.
The Big Apple.
Who suffered its loss.
Who lost so many people who loved it so much.

My homeland New York， I want you home.
I want to curl up in you， my true love New York.