History Often Rhymes, III: "first Muslim mayor of New York City"
for Zohran Mamdani, the first Muslim mayor of New York City
and "ALL" New Yorkers
with his hand
firmly on the Quran
Mamdani vows ...
echo and echo through hearts
while the city breathes as one
FYI: "Zohran Mamdani is considered the second Muslim mayor of a major Western capital, following his inauguration as the 112th Mayor of New York City on January 1, 2026. While New York City is not a national capital, it is often grouped with cities like London as a "global capital" or "major Western capital" in political discourse. By this definition, Mamdani follows Sadiq Khan, who became the first Muslim mayor of a major Western capital when he was elected Mayor of London in 2016."
And some relevant passages from his inaugural address:
I have been told that this is the occasion to reset expectations, that I should use this opportunity to encourage the people of New York to ask for little and expect even less. I will do no such thing. The only expectation I seek to reset is that of small expectations.
Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously. We may not always succeed. But never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try...
I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist. I will not abandon my principles for fear of being deemed radical. As the great senator from Vermont once said, “What’s radical is a system which gives so much to so few and denies so many people the basic necessities of life.”
Added:
thunderclaps echo ...
Kharkiv’s skies smoky red
on New Year
Kharkiv’s skies smoky red
on New Year
Added: Against the Drowning Noise of Other Words, CCLXII: "haunting thoughts"
haunting thoughts
of a Gazan baby
swirl within ...
yet rainbow flowers bloom
above New York’s neon haze
Added: Trump Empire, Inc, LXVII:
written in response to CBS News, Jan. 3 2026: U.S. strikes Venezuela and captures Maduro; Trump says "we're going to run the country" for now
Maduro
bound, blindfolded and kidnapped ...
Trump's meaty smile
and his middle finger raised
to clicking of cameras
Added:
this pull
of the moonlit darkness
as if distant
as if near ...
still, I wait
