New York City, like her motherland, is called a melting pot
People from around the globe bring ethnic diversity
Differing in outward appearance, culture, religion, customs, language
Some groups gravitate to nests of like culture
Others blend into more homogeneity as “New Yorkers”
All bring potential for conflict as well as for harmonious community
Chauvinism is common among various parts of the community
Which can bind an inner community but stir the pot
When conflict arises and some forget that they are all New Yorkers
And fear that their heritage will be lost in a sea of diversity
They want to live the New York life within their native culture;
Although some are multilingual, others never adapt to a new language
Schools are challenged to teach English as a second language
But some ethnic groups continue their native tongue within a community
Because language is such an intimate part of culture,
Challenging the metaphor of the melting pot
And stands as a strong symbol of ethnic diversity
(Heaven forbid that we all start to speak like New Yorkers)
But ethnic diversity is not just an issue for New Yorkers
Nor is New York City the only place confronted with issues involving language
Like New York, our country’s strengths as well as challenges involve diversity
Can we acknowledge diversity and foster a sense of community?
Are we willing to live the metaphor of melting pot,
Preserving diverse cultures without losing a national culture?
Can we even identify an American culture?
What does it mean when we say we are Americans, or New Yorkers?
Questions like these can serve to stir the pot
As we debate issues like a national language
And what responsibilities for accommodation fall upon each community
Faced with a growing amount of ethnic diversity
Let us rejoice in our national ethnic diversity
And embrace it as the keystone of our culture
Let the Irish have pride in the Irish community
As pride in Bronx or Brooklyn among New Yorkers
Accommodate diversity of language
Perhaps a better metaphor is a stew pot
For rather than diversity fused into an amalgam as from a melting pot
Denying pride in different culture or language,
Long live the differences within a harmonious community as Americans and as New Yorkers
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Comments: 45
There's basically 2 different views on what America is, by most people ...
Those that accept that it's all sorts of different cultures from all over the globe, all at once.
And those that think it's mostly all one way, and everybody has to conform to that or else be "unAmerican" ...
I feel that it is possible to have a balance between ethnic pride and and inclusive community. It's possible for everybody to be Irish on St. Patrick's day without offending the Irish, yet for the Irish to be proud of their heritage and whatever elements of their culture they wish to preserve, as one example. The Hmong have had to make adjustments in our society, yet I feel we must honor their culture to the extent that it complies with our laws and is practical in our environment.
I have an interview from at least a couple Vietnamese who underwent hair-raising events during the war.
I looked back at the sestina form, but decided that there was NO WAY. Once was difficult enough for me.
Featured in Triple Name Club.
Thank you submitting to Gathers Luminous Writers and Artists. Now featured.
This is a grand vision John, and beautifully done. Sestina's are very difficult because they have the tendency to become unweildy. Your's does not feel labored at all. It is informative and poetic. Very well done.
Mindful Poetry accepts your submission with a smile and a grateful heart.
For my taste, John, I like end words that can be used in a variety of positions within the sentence. I like double-entendre. But that's subjective, not a criticism of your poem.
I think I would have liked to see some more poetic technique such as alliteration, internal rhyme, and original metaphor & simile. Sea of diversity and melting pot match the ticket, but they are oft-used.
You added some touches such as mention of the Irish and Hmong, but if you could add a personal reference-perhaps not personal to *you*, but personal in the sense that it references an individual rather than a group-that would be welcome.
But my comments are only in response to your request to offer critique. Is this a form you'd like to add to your poetic repertoire?
I totally agree with your comments, Coach. I wrote this "rough", then went over it several times but seemed unable to make it more poetic. I think the one from last April might be more along the lines which you mention.
When I write a sonnet or when I write an epic style poem in trocheic tetrameter, the poem comes naturally to me and nearly writes itself. Not so much with a sestina, which is not to say that I don't feel comfortable with the form. So in answer to your question, I do expect to write sestinas in the future when the subject seems to be appropriately treated in that form.
I truly appreciate your taking the time to critique my sestina, Susan.
That is often how I feel about sestina or pantoum. But these metered forms beat the devil out of me.
You'll love (I hope!) this month's Form-of-the-Month. I posted my column earlier this morning. I'm going to go send out a promo-announcement to Mindful Poetry in a minute.
I almost asked you to write about meter in poetry as you have a wonderful handle on it. The only reason I didn't ask is because I'm usually working on MP stuff after midnight and staring at the clock thinking, "I've got to finish this now!"
What she lacks in time management she makes up for with ingenuity...