News Flash

POSTSCRIPT FOR A POSTCARD FROM NEW YORK
A symbolic backbone -
Of esthetic clones -
All steel, glass, and stone.

Born of vision, sweat, politics, big money -
The apple of The Big Apple's eye -
Of motherhood and apple pie.

There within - the City's mix - so vibrant - so alive -
Mr. Jordan's shoes, designer suits, Filene's ties - Ride an elevator to the sky -
Buy a half-price ticket to a Broadway show -
Step forward - don't impede the flow!

From the apogee
Grand symbols of liberty -
Welcome to the USA -
On this fine September day!

Predicting a Southwesterly breeze -
A temperature of 70° -
Visibility as far as the eye can see -
A New York day to die for -
But not a day to die.

Now my heart is here beneath your rubble -
Hopes surrendered -
My soul in His hands.

Falling!

I dreamed of yesterday
of friends, of me -
Most, of family -
Of what must be.

But not alone!

A rainbow collage of people all around me -
United in our moment of tragedy -
From China to Spain -

California to Maine
Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens.
With New Yorkers who loved the track at Saratoga Springs -
Have viewed the Adirondacks from a front porch swing -
Have ridden Harleys abreast on a Catskill lane -
Were the Sunfish sailors of Lake Champlain.

Every parent of every child -
Every father's daughter -
Every mother's son.
Now all just one.

Alas - our epithet
Spoken by a postcard of your past.

FRANKLIN R. THEIS
September, 2001