The Central Park Mall

New York has many hot days, but the heat and humidity doesn’t keep
me from continuing my walks in Central Park. In the spring, tulips were
blooming in the Park’s gardens, but now there are many summer
flowers, such as sunflowers, canna lilies and others whose names
I don’t know, that are competing with their bright colors.

There are families and couples scattered about, lying on the grass in the shade.

My mother’s haiku:
“Lying down we can feel the smell of grass and breeze of early summer”.

The park has many stone bridges. There was a woman who painted
one of them, who had the sound of cicadas singing while she created it.
It is very good.

Another of my mother’s haikus:
“We can hear the voice of cicada like they are reluctant leaving summer”.

My favorite place in Central Park is The Mall.

The Mall is the only wide, straight road which leads from just past 66th Street
to 72nd Street. On The Mall, there are benches and street lights along its length.

The road has still another name, “The Literary Walk”, because of the many
statues of people who have influenced the literature of the world.
The first is of Shakespeare, which needs no description plaque.

My father gave me “Shakespeare’s Complete Works” when I was a child.
My older sister said that it was too difficult for me.
But I recall reading the entire book, because I knew that I would regret
not reading each work.
Another statue is of Robert Burns. Even though you may not know the name
of the 18th Century Scottish poet, everyone knows “Auld Lang Syne”
sung on New Year’s Eve and many know “The Sky of Hometown”,
which he collected and adapted from Scottish folk songs.

Poet and novelist, Sir Walter Scott, who wrote “Rob Roy” and
“Lady of the Lake” and has his face is on Bank of Scotland paper money,
also has a statue on The Walk.

Whenever I walk this road, in inspires me to write.
So sometimes I sit on a bench and brush up some of my unfinished drafts.
Now I am writing a novel called “Waiting for you” which is the sequel
to my novel, “Find Me”. I’ve been working on a scene that takes
place on The Mall in my second novel. The heroine of my story,
Yuko walks hand-in-hand with her boyfriend down this road.
This is an excerpt:

“The green of the elm trees are blocking the sun-drenched afternoon,
making beautiful shadows. Floating down like the beating of angel wings,
a cool breeze brushes my sweaty cheek. I feel as if it will bless me…
I will never forget this ‘Literary Walk’ with Michael (her boyfriend).
By accident, I found ‘Michael’s Bench’. This is where Michael gave me
ruby earring, glowing like cherries, for a birthday present.
I will never forget today….”

What is “Michael’s Bench”?
In the park, there are plenty of benches donated by citizens.

Each bench has a loving message. Because I found one with
a special message, I put it in my novel as “Michael’s Bench”.

The plaque said, “A Big Dreamer who walked this path often reflecting
on the joys of life. You are much loved and sorely missed.”
These words are related to the past and future of the heroine in my novel.
Now you know how I’ve been struggling to write this story.
I hope to finish it someday.

Vol.65 The Central Park Mall