On the map of Boston, rivers, channels, islands, the ocean A city that should be intimately connected to the water And yet it’s not, as I discover tracing the waterfront during several long walks I see commercial buildings, shipyards, heavy industry right on the water New construction of residential condos, office buildings, but few people Brick walls that have become abstract paintings Boats abandoned at docks that nobody uses Old bridges connecting nothing Mountains of salt and pyramids of tires Piers being used as parking lots But I also see public and private buildings being integrated with the waterfront New parks with benches and swings right by the water Exciting art in unexpected spots Rough surfaces splendidly rusted by humidity Magnificent views of a city in flux, the fertile combination of the old and the new I applaud the work to weave it all together Now looking forward, myself even more a part of my city And I continue the discovery
