The Tropics in New York

"The Immigrant’s Song" by Tishani Doshi (2012)

Doshi is a contemporary Indian poet. The speaker of the poem is an immigrant who addresses other immigrants, wherever they may be. Unlike in “The Tropics in New York,” the speaker advises immigrants not to look back with nostalgia to the past but to accept and embrace their lives in their new country.

"When Dawn Comes to the City" by Claude McKay (1922)

This poem alternates between the sights and sounds of New York City at dawn, where the speaker lives, and the place that he longs for, “the island of the sea” (Line 9 ). “Tired,” “grumbling,” “lonely,” and “sadly” are among the words in this 44-line poem that describe the awakening city as cars and milk carts get moving. In contrast, the island at dawn is full of the natural, pleasing (to the poet) sounds of cocks, hens, cows, horses, and goats, and a stream falls “joyously” on the rocks. As with “The Tropics in New York,” there is no doubt about where the poet would prefer to be.

"Subway Wind" by Claude McKay (1922)

A New York City subway train arrives in a deafening roar of wind.