By Daniela Aguilar

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A brisk night in the city of Chicago and the small moments that reflect the city.

The city buzzes with electricity 
People huddle under the heat lamps
Relishing in the warm embrace while the train arrives 
Silently watching as the last gold threads unravel from the sky 

The wind rises and takes flight – making her way through the darkness
            Weaving through her city – unnoticed
                                  Floating above the alleyways that swallow secrets
            She folds through the library’s gargoyles 
                                               And curves through the concrete lions that guard the city 

Skyscrapers begin to slow dance with the wind
The frosted lake cracks like a burning fire 
Snow-heavy clouds bask in the shadowed reflection from their favorite sculpted mirror 

The last train comes to a screeching halt
A blanket of snow tucks the city away for the night
                                         The wind lets out a heavy roar
                                                                 As she carries the sounds of her city in her wake 

Process

I grew up in Chicago before moving to New York and it will always be a city that is dear to my heart. When my mentee and I were discussing growing up in our respective cities, we wanted to write poems that reflected our experience. This is the poem that came out of it and was one of the first poems I wrote at the start of this program.