Ode to Chicago - I'm already missing you

The year was 1998, I drove downtown
like I'm in a Benz but it's only an 88.

On your highway I heard the radio bang something melodious
with speeches, music and D. Rodman stickin his nose at us

I've walked your streets from the black belt to the north wealth
Yet It hurt to see the dividin' line dropped hard - both theirs' and mine

Lived in Pilsen, worked it in Evanston, & drove the LSD
rode the Metra, heard a preach from northside L down to the city

Excuse for being crass but I know you like to laugh
I thought I could ball like a champ with boys from backstreet & under the ramp

More than once had to find my way back but I never lost my first Love
He buried and carried me through the thick, rough and the tough

A date, maybe two, fell in love with a just a few
then my love fell when you gave me my beautiful sunshine, my magic, my boo.

We brought life to the world right here from within you
you need to know for some reason, my heart already misses you

I never had a black man for a friend or a black woman or a child to know hand in hand
Chicago, you gave me some beautiful people, some soul-stirring friends

My one regret is that I can't hand you more than you shouldered for me
If I turned back time, tried harder - you'd still be the one that set me free

From Cabrini Green, Lakeside laughter to Hancock million dollar view
Chicago, you need to know how much I'm going to miss you.

Like an old soul child,  I cry, tear up and reminisce
Why - because of this city I'm leaving, this city of mr., ms. & mrs.


I know that my core was formed by you - by your streets, your lights your people and your food
I laugh so many times when I think of your smiles and cry each time just cause you put me in the mood

Thank you for my family, the friends, the foes, the woes and wilds
for those lonely walks under street lights where you and I hooked up and dialed.

For great music, great pain, great fruit and a little just the same
for terror turned to laughter and everything in-betwane.

Never thought a city could make me choke up
but again you gave me more than I could make up

I now know why Kanye wrote that sweet song
he saw you for real as a person not a pawn

I won't let you down my friend - I'll love this sweet world
you gave me new eyes, strong legs and my heart set sail, strong and unfurled

New York, New Delhi, Bangkok and L.A.
It doesn't matter, I just hope we can come back one fine windy day

Whenever it's cold, windy, maybe some rain, yet still sublime
we'll remember you warmed us, the time you took us in, and made us your mine.

I know there's some rough patches while rhyming this poem
but that's like Chicago - rough with some edges, but you feel right at home

We can't forget you, we won't -  you're too one of a kind
you helped make us who we are, you helped us make it through some trying time

So, Wherever we go and whatever we do I want you to know
no one will ever do it just quite like you

Chicago, you need to know our time together was true
Chicago you need to know I'm already...missing you.