"Valentines and Villains"

To sum up New York City in one poem will not be easy

Beautiful, passionate, ruthless and sleazy

Lady Liberty looks down on her plentiful flock

While the Brooklyn bodega boys protect their block

The Bronx girl with the hoops is speaking her mind

And the Park Avenue princess prefers her own kind

The streets are alive and will swallow you whole

You hope that the next one you meet has a soul

Are you young enough, thin enough, rich enough or fast enough?

Can you be gracious and kind and still be tough enough?

Heartbreak, dreams, love and hate

Your willingness to survive will decide your fate

The kid from the hood wants to see some light

Not get rolled up on and provoked to fight

Overwhelming, exciting, contagious and broad

You'll meet a friend, a lover, a foe and a fraud

You can try anything here and keep the dream alive

Just don't forget that your heart and mind have to survive

It's fascinating, cruel and sometimes even kind

New York City - you are the glitter and the grind