The Story of Englewood

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Aasha Marie

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She's a woman whose name has been dragged through the mud
Though her dirt is one I've played in, ever since I soiled my diapers 
My feet a native of her grounds; she found me on Damen and 63rd Street
Her summers serenaded children to come play on her sidewalks
The heat summoned the animal in us running wild through this concrete jungle
This forest we call the block, our reality

In the honesty of our imaginations we clogged our ears to gunshots 
And told ourselves they were fireworks, pretended the crackheads were zombies 
And gangbangers were just pirates lost at sea 
Trying to find a compass to lead them to safe landing
See, we, we were narrators, masters of fiction 
We became the best storytellers, weaving characters together
Creating our own safe haven in Englewood, nested on Chicago south-side 
Hatched from her eggs, these young dreamers - poets, rappers, thinkers, and preachers 
Gazing towards the future on the yellow brick road that led us downtown
Her beauty is unmatched
Her park allows us to relive the new millennium, her shining gem
One we see our reflection in, altering our appearance in her mirror

The bean, suddenly morph into Jack
Climbing the giant's stalks known as skyscrapers, barely reaching the top
We fall hard onto Lake Shore Drive, headed towards the lake named Michigan
The good witch of the east, her blue waters playing copycat with the sky
Today, she is overcast but still gorgeous
Her waves laugh, welcoming us into her boats where we play Captain
Trying to sink each other's battleships before night fall so we can stare at her light show 
Signalling us through buildings, several stories high that it's time to return to the southside 
And tuck our vivid imaginations in bed with us

We forget, we forget our city is windy
She blows us back to our side of town before we can even click our heels
We breeze past guaranteed rate field
Leaving our competition in the dust on their white socks
They scoff at us as we grow wings, flying over the Dan Ryan
Wanting to make a pit stop at Harold's Chicken, the scent teasing our nostrils
We can taste Chicago on the tip of our tongues rich with wealth in our words 
Creating brand new horizons that parallel our skylines

We bring honor, we bring honor to the city
Though inside of us a fire is kindling
We continue to ignore the media reports saying we have robbed her of her dignity
Once clothed and trade and commerce, the busiest damsel on the southside
Prejudice and pride caused the feet of those who once called her home to flee
And now those deemed hoodlums and less desirables inhabit her now

They say, Englewood is bare, emptied of any inhabitants who care
That nowadays she has become a desert, devoid of life, being sucked out of her
The only water she sees are tears, caused by the feet of those that are swift to shed blood
Stains, bloodstains on our shoes point us to a greater redemption 
A love that penetrated our hearts two thousand years ago 
One who influenced our stories with great parables
Washing away the dirty residue of doubt, guilt and shame 
This pure blood that bathes us in hope 
Knowing that our earthly houses are marked with a red X for demolition 
Or even abandonment; we know that one day that we will rise a new life 
From State to Ashland, from 71st all the way east to Paxton

These streets were made for walking
And that's just what we'll do
Carrying a brand new future for Englewood
Exchanging lies for the truth as we spread the good news

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