This poem is about Paterson, NJ and its throbbing streets, as well as its diversified cultures. Paterson is the home of Spanish speaking immigrants from Peru, Columbia and many other cultures. It also hosts a large population of Arabic speaking people. Bangladeshis notably from Sylhet, North-Eastern Bangladesh have taken up residence there. There are also some Albanians in the area as well, in addition to the few Anglo-Americans and many African Americans in Bangladesh. So, it truly is a diversified city, with a rich history. Some of the poems in the Dawn book are reflections of these cultures, as is this poem about the city.
Spanish songs beat aloud
passing from cars and radiating heat,
brightly shining Bengali saris
pass to and fro intermittently on Main Street,
Shining delightful brilliant colors
in the soon-to-come
summer's heatful glare,
walking, slowly, strong, straight and light
Cold steam rises
from an ever-deepening
blue-black swirling pool,
a waterfall plunges from heights above,
carrying sticks of wood
that plunge to the watery-deep,
bobbing in the surf below,
painting a picture
of peace, strength and love
A few steps away
from Misses Scott's preschool of hope
children starting the day
singings songs to uplift
their little black, white and red souls
the littlest children
three, four, and five childish-years-old,
A happy day
This first of May
Hope rises like The misty fray
Of the plunging waterfall's
Ocean-river spray,
And the bobbing ducks which disappear
only minutes later to again be seen,
in this hopeful peaceful
youthful high school lake.
Paterson, NJ
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