Uptown, Prince sang about you, We danced to your beat, You were unique Like that thrift shop on Sheridan Road, You were filled with glory, You were gang territory, You’re a chapter of my story, You are where we laughed and cried, Where those we loved lived and died, Music bumping, hearts pumping, You were filled with addicts, educators and haters, Playgrounds with crack vials and fake smiles, An absolute melting pot of cultures, hustler and vultures, Bus cards to ride the train, No umbrella in the pouring rain, Conversations with my best friend, A place of failed romances and second chances, Storefront spirituality and psychic mentality, Broken dreams inevitable, regrettable, Thank goodness for the neighborhood music stores, I bought 45’s galore after I did my chores, Hard to come of age in a cage, Mama was strict She wasn’t having it, I would not become a statistic, Uptown was lamp lights, street fights and starry nights, Walks in Margate park long after dark, Picnics by the lake, grilled carne asada on a paper plate, Cute Puerto Rican boys making noise, You hold pieces of my soul, no mystery, pivotal to my history, Beautiful murals, lovely views, childhood friends of all hues, Homeless people singing the blues, Oblivious young girls being used, Mama blasting Al Green, I was barely a teen, Broken windows, boarded buildings, Single moms and their children, High rise to the skies, family ties, Pizza by the slice, hood paradise Innocence faded into 1978 sunset, I was a dreamer, even then, You inspired me to pick up a pen, So long to Bennie and the Jets, Nothing left to regret, No more music blasting from the Aragon, Time moved on like a forgotten song, Like a Prince record spinning around, I danced until I survived you… Uptown
This poem was submitted by Ms. Jimmie Ware of Black Feather Poets, and it's just awesome. Poetry that tells a story and brings real memories to life are a true testament to how spoken word can be used to help people - whether its coping with something in life, trying to share what life was like or simply letting the world know what you've seen. Think about it - if you didn't know about Uptown Chicago, you're going to know what it feels like, picture what it looks like, hear what it sounds like - hell, you can probably even smell it from this poem! A note from the author: "The northside neighborhood of Uptown in Chicago was a place of multicultural friendships for me. It was filled with joy, laughter, growing pains and street gangs. Lifetime bonds remain in tact along with warm memories. Amazing bands played at the Aragon Ballroom. We spent Saturdays at the Uptown movie theater or hanging out at Margate park. Many of us survived and I thrived one poem at a time. McCutcheon elementary and Senn high are where many of our dreams began."