Made Him Believe

The Bean. Millennium Park. Chicago, IL. Copyright 2013 

Free to move, is an ol’ Man’s groove,

Nothing to prove, looking to improve.

To Chicago to reboot, to find his ground,

Enough of empty suites, his soul’s flight’s bound.

Wanting to see it one last time,

Neighborhood, alley, church, sites of youthful crime.

Touch the stone of parents’ last rest.

Then to Michigan Lake to decompress. 

Deep in the city, the home bound soul,

His health has yet to pay life’s toll.

To spite his dark dread and funk,

The ill omen days, the almanac, debunked.

His own will drained by life’s love lost,

His desire, and dreams to the refuse tossed,

His far vision blackened to a pin point,

His own expiration he did disappoint.

Slowly in the city of youth,

Each footfall echoed his own truth.

Rambling along tree line streets,

Life whispered for greater feats.

Mischief, adventure, the joy of life,

Replaced the refrain of his disenchanted past wife.

With each step on the city’s walk,

A new beat chipped away dark gloom’s schlock.

Once again in this city by the lake,

He found life, passion, to change his fate.

No more did he live in dread,

He shook the sadness out of his head.

There was still a full life to be lead.

Indeed adventure would embrace his need.

Fulfillment, challenge, and successes to see,

Chicago, even the daily grind, made him believe.