"I Heart In The City" by Mark Anthony Thomas

I HEART IN THE CITY
I took this camera
to capture
her in the city;

these towers would
fall down
for her beauty

this I had
to preserve.

here, we’re
in Bryant Park’s
field;

in this photo, we’re
along the
South Street Seaport.

here, at the
center of
Times Square

as if the world
was watching us,

& we truly
believed they were.

As the sun set
over the Hudson
River valley,

I stood her right here,
for this photo in
Union Square;

to capture the
Empire State building
in the distance.

the tower’s
floodlights were
lit green;

the same green
of the traffic lights
leading Uptown

as she reached
for my hands,
& my camera

so she could shoot
this video footage
here, & here,

of me running
up Broadway,
towards her,

passing
17th, 18th,
& 19th Streets …

I knew then,
I’d be willing to go
pass the squares,

the park,
through the
Viaduct Valley

up to the Heights,
to chase her
with my love,

laughing,
in a playful
newfound joy

and capturing
picture after picture
of each step.