City Poems - The Chicago Poetry Center

City Poems

One thing all of these poets have in common is the city they live in, Chicago. Chicago can be a marvelous town full of wonders and a cold crippling city with danger around every corner. After analyzing Carl Sandburg’s poem “Chicago”, poets wrote about their city in both a negative and positive light. The first stanza of each poem is about how they see the city a negative way and the second stanza is about the positive way they see Chicago.

Untiled by M. Washington

My city Chicago

Where it’s shooting at Citgo

Lootings through downtown

My city Chicago

Covid-19 outbreaks in the streets

We’re rioting about George Floyd

They’re looting their own stores

Untitled by Romero B.

I come from where the new in the city is loose squares

I rise from the ashes and the broken glass of the Holy Dead

Tears shed from the fallen, from the queen while her men chant his name in the sky

Everyday on the westside sounds like the 4th of July

The land is fresh with the scent of BBQ ribs

Kids playing without worrying about tomorrow

Everything is a work process but it comes from within

But a smile on a person who raised you, you will feel warm inside

Untitled by Jodi N.

Tough streets of Chicago you made me who I am.Tough streets of Chicago

Tough streets of Chicago you had a plan for me that force me to observe

What kids like me do not know.

Tough streets of Chicago you tell me how to react which has kept me on my toes.

Tough streets of Chicago you force me to react in a dire situation.

Tough streets of Chicago you are trying to kill me.

Tough streets of Chicago here is what you do not know… I am not easily defeated.