This is a poem that I wanted to write if I were to move to Chicago. I do not see me living there at any point in my life as I have aspirations that cannot be fulfilled in the wonderful windy city. So here it is…Chicago
–
I am one of you
Adhering to the droning call
Of the El clamoring on rusted tracks
Echoing through slim walls
And decrepit cinder block exteriors
Sound waves rumble through cracked wooden floors
Off arched doorways and into my ears
–
I am one of you
Adorning the Transit Authority with wrinkled dollar bills
Fumbled out of pockets full of lint and crumbs
Into hand frozen from wind rustled streets
Faces frozen eyes wondering for the next train
Enjoying the warmth of the train car
Handling homeless and trying to be generous
–
I am one of you
Creeping into storefronts to make my nose recover
From delayed busses and off kilter schedules
Sitting proud in my seat
Kindly nodding to the gentlemen and the lady next to me
Waiting for the next stop
The next opportunity
To start a conversation to ask how you are doing
–
I am one of you
Illuminated under the city lights
Crawling from my small abode in the height of 8 stories
Crackling heaters with old fashioned glory
In the stream of young lust hoping for a midnight story
Passionately taking every moment as it comes
Letting the others pass as they go
–
I am one of you
Saluting the 6 star banner
Waving in baby blue and red
With honor and dignity it waves
Gently
From the buildings overhead
–
I am one of you
With hope for a better future than today
Trying to make things better than yesterday
Shootings, violence, and challenges
The city faces everyday
Only change will then come
When the people have the pride to say
–
“I am Chicago”
We are all busy
Too fucking busy
To
Care
–
Unfortunately
It is not alright
To Know Nothing
–
I have learned enough
To know
I know nothing
One day
If that changes
My mind begins
To rearrange
And reassess that I know more
That is the sign
Of weakening
Stepping back instead of ahead
Prempting the words
Coming out of wise peoples heads
I must continue to know nothing
Even though I can learn something
I am constantly amazed at what more
There is out in the world
More knowledge
More ability
More of everything I can see
I must be humbled by this
Detach the insatiable ego
And let it go
For I truly know nothing
I am humbled to say this
Proclaim
But the question now stands
Can you say the same?
Contour of heart
Falls on other part
Curves forming motion
Pumps blood
Life brooding ocean
From the heart
Cascading pumping
Pulling
The life beat
In sealed constant sheets
Blowing in life’s line
One in sync with mind
And falls
In stride
With the
True lovely art
And the many
Contours of the heart
Cold bitter cold
Sets in like weights
Heavy on the soul
Waiting at stop lights
On icy streets
Dusted paths
On December nights
Engine warms
It feels alright
I long for warmer nights
When souls bask outside
But it’s winter
Inside you will find
Every heart and soul friend of mine
Staying warm and passing time
In the deepest of wintertime
Through someone’s flesh
Can be the definitive conclusion to one
Or a tear from which you can recover
It can mean life
Or it could mean death
The angle of which a ball can bounce
Will be the deciding factor
Whether it will come back
Or roll away
The angle of a fall
Can either break the bone
Or bruise the skin
The angle of basketball shot
Can come up short
Or be perfected for the win
The angle is the most important aspect
Of these finite decisions
So it should be of no surprise
That when I can see evil in ones eyes
With hearts left out cold
Their mind has to arrest and wrangle
For I must understand these souls
Attack others from such a devious angle
It is with few words
I must strike down
The rhythm and the sound
Falling on fond ears
Restrained and freed
Recalling memories so new and old
with few words
I must paint many lines
So that a story can be told
Bitter Styrofoam Celebrity
