TRAVEL — MEMOIR
Echoes of Concrete, Melodies of Green
New York City’s contrasting realms
I followed the herd, Mindless, my soul confined. Yearning to ascend, To behold the Big Apple From the heavens high, Curious about the empyreal secrets. I stood amidst the labyrinthine queues, Patience tested, weariness tangled, The desire to ascend Now teetered on the precipice of doubt. Yet, I pressed on Driven by an insatiable curiosity. Finally, the elevators carried me skyward. Doors opened, revealing the concrete rises, A sight both colossal and confined. The empyreal secrets I sought, Were veiled amidst the urban sprawl. Tall lifeless bricks stacked high, Cars scuttle like tiny ants lost in a city maze. Police sirens wailed in disarray, A galling recurrent cacophony, In this dystopian tableau. Till I reached the coveted 102nd floor, Where panoramic views stretched further, The Hudson River, a balm for my weary eyes, A respite from the city’s concrete guise.
Longing for liberation from the lifeless edifices I escaped on a quest for nature. I descended, liberated from lofty dreams, To wander amidst the city’s greenest park, Lying on the grass, I gazed up at the concrete giants, The green tranquil haven beneath me. While myriad souls sought the heights, I cherished the ground. A saxophone whispered the melodies of repose, Transporting my soul to an orbit beyond strife.
In the clasp of contrasting realms, Journeying from the dizzying heights of towering edifices, To the tranquil sanctuary of nature’s alcove, In this delicate equipoise of divergent perspectives, Was a poignant juncture of self-revelation.
Note: The magnificent Empire State Building often beckoned me to its lofty heights whenever I visited NYC. During one of the visits, I gave in. However, after reaching the summit, I realized my love for the city was far beyond its skyscrapers. I found joy in wandering the bustling streets, exploring museums, and finding peace in the green spaces of Washington Square Park and Central Park — lying on the grass, immersed in a book. While many admire the view from the Empire State Building, my heart sought solace in the city’s parks. Our personal preferences shape our experiences, and there is no right or wrong way to appreciate the beauty and essence of a city like New York.
“At night… the streets become rhythmical perspectives of glowing dotted lines, reflections hung upon them in the streets as the wistaria hangs its violet racemes on its trellis. The buildings are shimmering verticality, a gossamer veil, a festive scene-prop hanging there against the black sky to dazzle, entertain, amaze.” — Frank Lloyd Wright
More Skyscrapers!
Read about the fascinating Kabukicho Tower, Japan’s first skyscraper designed by a woman by Aaron Paulson
“It’s just another example of how much our perspective changes when we view something from a new vantage point.” — a great piece by Claire Elizabeth Levesque with stunning night photos from 360 Chicago.
