I grew up on the Northwest side

playing kickball in the street

Our gang would roughhouse every afternoon

until my momma called me in to eat

The winter wind whipped our noses

‘til the April sun melted the ice

Then we’d ride our bikes out to Montrose Beach

to the center of paradise

Well, they call it the Windy City but it’s home sweet home to me

Lake Michigan you are my long lost friend my only Holy sea

And Lake Shore Drive I love you You’re the greatest road I’ve known

Chi ca go you are my heart and soul. Chicago you’re my home

Jenny shocked me in the seventh grade

when she gave me my very first kiss

A few years later on her daddy’s couch

the poetry went further than this

Working at Portillo’s in High School I’d spend any money I made

‘Cause we’d bus to Rush Street on a Friday night

but we’d make it back unscathed

West Loop, Printer’s Row, Streeterville,

Hyde Park, River North, Beverly

Bucktown, Lincoln Park, Edgewater

Go Chicago go go go go go

Now it’s half past noon on a day in June

And I’m done with work for the day

Gonna catch the Redline to the Addison stop

Gonna watch the Cubbies play

Murphy’s Bleachers for pre-game

Clark street after the ninth

Sing a song for Harry and a toast for life

Gonna down me a couple of pints