Chicago Midway
05.Dec.2001
some very strange cowboys
chinese, african, hawaiian ones
real or pseudo rodeo participants
or some obscure club from out of town
little dogs trailed along and even cats
all boxed and carefully accounted for
polish or east european
cleaning ladies chattering in their native tongue
african american security people
filled with the vigor of the empowered
loud in their insecurity
the occasional 10 wends her way down the concourse
an eddy of desire in her wake
a really big guy with a funny christmas hat
careful don’t laugh
he takes Christmas serious obviously
this is the diversity of america
many retaining their native language
some exhibiting their bad temper
like the smokers
corralled in an external wire cage
echoes of the gulag apparent
watch them make their way there
cigarette in hand ready for the fix
compliance with the local ordinance
reinforced by a stern warning message
fragments of conversations from passers-by
cell and earpiece in place
oblivious to the rest of us
intent on their public private conversation
shared with us
voyeurs
our day in chicago midway
better than tv
the real life taste
tangible in the air
