" The South Side of Chicago"

''The South Side of Chicago'' by David HartThe South
Side of ChicagoWhence those
childhood years were spentSkip-walking upon
grimacing cracked sidewalksHastening
through filth floored garbage
cannedflanked alleyways to-The forlorn
house-windows weeping chrystalline
shards-cascading glass tears'Property
Condemned' blared in scarlet on the
door.'Someone lives there' it was said, 'the
man who gathers things from the
garbage cans'The pebble strewn church yard,
where, in prickly winter,
scarved boys coerce the bell to toll with swift
flungsnowballs catapaulted
to a shivering bell tower.The South Side of Chicago,
The year of the big
church fireThat day it did burn and clawAt the hot black
night sky.People
gathered, assembled in solemnityAghast, huddled and shoving to
seeThat
hallowed place whose torrentsOf Sunday's serenities and dressupsNow
would no
longer be.The South Side of ChicagoThere, the swill darkened tavernThat
nightly gulped down shadow faced spectresA lad cries out, 'the bar, someone
stabbed in thehead, come and see'.'Not I', I said, 'not a sight I'd care to
see', as an acidic sadness enveloped me.The boys came together wearing
theirjackets and coats-symbols affixed, emblemsproudly donned-so they knew
who
they were.'Wanna join? ' 'No thanks', I said, 'Glad to bejust solitary
me'.I
watched them, fighting their rivalsWith chains, steel pipes and
knivesFearing
their bloody deeds.Content to be aloneAlone and freeThe South
Side of ChicagoIn
cramped classrooms scented insoap and sawdustMostly
attentive I would beAmidst
tatterly clothed children-waiting for recess,
lunch ortime to go home.At recess,
the garbage men cameAnd roused a
battalion of ratsThat scattered pell-mellAmidst
little girl shrieksand
screamsLittle boys chortlingChased those rats
frightenedawayFar awayOn the
South Side of Chicago2001DHartUSA