Haikus for New York City - by Peter C Goldmark Jr (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

There are infinite stories about New York City, here are 41 in haiku form.

In this love letter to his favorite city, lifelong New Yorker Peter C. Goldmark, Jr. has crafted a collection of haiku that are simultaneously nostalgic and perceptive. Touching on everything from the city's beloved landmarks to the rising costs of living and the famous lie, "There is a train directly behind this one," the poems in this book capture the true essence of this special place.

Given everything New York has endured recently, this book offers a timely celebration of a unique and wonderful city and its people--written to honor the ties and realities that bind them together. Alongside the sweet, and often funny, haiku poems, wistful illustrations help bring New York to life.

From the preface by the author:
"And then as 2019 and 2020 unfolded, both our country and our city came under stress. The adventure in self-government in America began to wobble seriously. And then the COVID pandemic hit. All this made me realize how much I valued my city--its beauty, its diversity and variety, its remarkable people, its grit and resilience...and how fragile and unique it was."

A portion of the proceeds supports Citizens NYC, a non-profit that helps neighborhoods work together to meet challenges like COVID.

Review Quotes

"...this short book is meant as a 'timely celebration of a unique and wonderful city and its people'--which is not to say that it ignores the realities of living there...The 'old city is ill, ' so it is understandable that Mr. Goldmark, Jr...should get a little sentimental about it. He happens to like New York, and who can blame him?" --Times Literary Supplement

"A short and sweet (and witty and earnest) collection of haikus by lifelong New Yorker Peter C. Goldmark Jr., accompanied by his daughter's equally simple and pensive illustrations. A portion of proceeds from the book will go toward supporting the nonprofit CitizensNYC." --Curbed

"An amazing way to honor [New York City]."--Monocle

"Elegant and eloquent, this book shows us New York as we've never seen it. The urban grit is still there, but Peter Goldmark brings it to us through the lens of poetry, revealing the truth under the toughness. For all of us lovers of New York, this book captures the essence of the city that doesn't sleep, but never tires." --Jeffrey Katzenberg, Co-Founder of Dreamworks Pictures and Dreamworks Animation, former Assistant to the Mayor of New York City

"Peter Goldmark's haikus are lovely and pungent. They evoke a contemplation of the great, old city. And Sandra Goldmark's artwork is witty and felt. Or, to put it in a few syllables:

A father writes words.
A daughter draws lines beneath.
Springtime in New York." --Alan Alda

"These haikus capture what it's like to live in New York City. From riding the subway to NYC's resilience, these poems are NYC in a nutshell...The short poems range from insightful words on the city's role as a safe harbor and home for the ambitious to the frustrating and wonderful aspects of living here." --Time Out New York

"These poems are a love letter to the city." --Mackenzie Dawson, Books Editor, New York Post

"This small book of haikus--a tribute to New York City--is a book for our times. It captures the city's essence, its power, its vulnerability and its resilience. Accompanied by witty, insightful illustrations, it is an antidote for anyone who fears for the city's future." --H. Carl McCall, Chairman Emeritus, State University of New York

About the Author

Born in Manhattan during WWII, Peter C. Goldmark, Jr. has lived most of his life as a New Yorker. He works as a global strategy consultant with foundations and other organizations seeking to address the huge challenges that confront us in this moment in history. As a creature of public life, Peter has run foundations, newspapers, and government agencies, including the Rockefeller Foundation and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. He was awarded the French Legion d'Honneur, the French equivalent of a knighthood, for his work as CEO and Publisher of the International Herald Tribune, based in Paris. Peter began writing poetry at the age of 40, though mostly privately, as a vehicle for making sense of the world. He currently lives near Prospect Park in Brooklyn with his wife Aliette. www.haikusfornyc.com

About the Illustrator:
Sandra Goldmark, Peter's daughter, is a designer, teacher, and entrepreneur whose work focuses on circular economy solutions to overconsumption and climate change. She is an Associate Professor of Professional Practice and Director of Sustainability and Climate Action at Barnard College, and the author of Fixation: How to Have Stuff without Breaking the Planet. www.sandragoldmark.com