#0138
Brooklyn Bridge and I
The narrator returns to Manhattan after many years and finds that the city feels both unchanged and transformed. He remembers walking the âachy benchâ on the Manhattan side, recalling how it once seemed familiar, and he reflects on old landmarksâthe Bridge, Lady Liberty, the âOld Twins,â and the New York County Supreme Courtâplaces that were once companions in his life. He muses about wearing a suit and shoes of a former judge, and about the courtâs words: âTHE TRUE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IS THE FIRMEST PILLAR OF GOOD GOVERNMENT.â As he strolls past the newly rising Freedom Tower and watches joggers and boats on the East River, he notes how simple questions like when it will stop raining or whether the subway will let him in a coat again feel profound. In all his wandering, he keeps learning new things each year, cherishing Decemberâs quiet moments, and sees the old bench as a perfect spot for picnics and contemplation of life moving fast.






















