All Eyes on Archer

An echoing roar sounds
Scraping the windows of the Majestic
Red letters rattle from the 'Berghoff'
Signalling fire beyond West Monroe
Reaching the rails at Adams & Wabash. 

Just across town, 

Old Leroy kicks a can

Beating on the back door of Daley's
Jiggling the handle for dry biscuits

Then disappearing under the 'L' 
Shuffling a cane in the February cold
 

The Green Line Screeches.

Rust struts stripped of yellow 

Tower over four-door horses

Shaking boarded windows 

Lining Cottage Grove.

E 63rd falls silent in the snow.

A few blocks over, a mural reads:

"Stop the Violence!"

Its graffiti sprayed as fast as bullets.

I don't think the city ever got the memo...

Hitching for a hand.

Looking for a postmortem dance.

Chasing ghosts on Archer

Attempting to reach the haunted.

-What would the Oh, Henry! play?

Dropping off a Date

Behind Ressurection's gate.

The hearse held two

In its late night move

Under a moonlit lovers lane.

Could two spirits find connection, 

Stranded in The Irish Legend?
Or would they be dragged out 

In the roadhouse tunnels beneath them?

Searching in an era dead

Rolling to a waltz without a pulse

Relinquished in the cinders of ballroom spooks

In the tales descended from the Willowbrook.