Arts Alive San Antonio

We are delighted to bring to you this new poem by Naomi Shihab Nye, easily the best known San Antonio poet, who is also considered one of the leading poets in America today. And the image that’s appearing here with her eloquent poem is by her husband, the prominent photographer, Michael Nye. It’s part of his City Spaces series and it was taken much before the current pandemic but it sure speaks to us right now.

I miss myself when I’m not here
       (Connor James Nye, Age 4)

         By Naomi Shihab Nye        

The easy come and go
of slipping into strangers’ world.
Hotel lobby breeze-by.
Comfort zone in unknown air.
Where are the people we rode elevators with,
how are they doing?
The child asked what floors
they were going to —
That’s really high!
Passing on a walk, crossing at a light,
were secret luxuries.
When we were little,
our father took us to the airport
to watch people departing,
arriving. It moved him.
He had tears in his eyes.
There was no security.
He was homesick for a homeland.
We are homesick for a homeland.