On The L

Walking down a street on a cracked sidewalk

Homeless man asking for some change with a cup in his hand with all that he got

Taxi's racing & the buses are breaking so fast that I almost got hit by a cab

The people are rude but amazing at the same time

I never seen fashion like this

With all the different people out....the air is so thick 

Hot dogs & pizza slices hanging off people's lips

"Hey Ma'am, where you from? I ain't used to seeing ladies with flat stomach & hips."

I told him I was from the South Side of Chicago and went to school down south

He smiled and said I thought you were Ethiopian
I smiled & kept walking

Just walking around in my town

Taking photos of the tall buildings and the crowd

Feeling very small & underground

Listening to the 5% nation

Constant thoughts to myself

I'm just a city girl with big dreams who rides the Subway Train

Vegetarian lifestyle so that means no-more Jew Town

Go over on the South Side every now & then just to say "Look At Me Now!!"  

I'm 21 living downtown in a city that country people dream about

I'm not afraid to catch a train at mid-night or swim in the lake

Chillin' on Broadway & working on Michigan Ave.

Everyday passing the Chicago Theater

Appreciating the Chi-Town culture

Now inserting my U-Pass so I can ride the L Train to Lincoln Park

It's time to hit up Ja'Grill or what I like to call The Reggae House on Armitage

These are streets that put the quick language back in my mouth, the speed in my walk, and the urban sound in my talk

These are just some of my thoughts & actions on a Monday night on the L

Deciding what I'm gonna write next for my paper

Black student studying Journalism downtown known as an English major

With a Tribune in one hand & a coffee in the other

This is home...the place that makes you tougher