The Poetry Man: Life isn't about the words you write, it's how you say them

Crazy and charming the poetry man moves from el car to el car preaching his love for the art of performance and poetry, trying to bring the arts of Chicago to the passive existence which the daily commuters take a place as momentarily after moving through the sliding doors. Tonight was a classic lesson of how sometimes just the right words can rejuvenate yourself to become inspired and hopeful of what tomorrow has to bring or what the past can reveal of sudden reason. My story begins at the Wilson stop off of the Red Line on a school supply trip to Target with floor friends. 

With the snow falling lightly at the el stop we listened to the hum of the heat lamps as we shared stories of our childhood winters and any other topic to keep the conversation moving. Close off was another Loyola student who happened to know one of my friends and with quick introduction he seamed right into the conversation we were having before. Silencing our laughter the el came clumsily into the station and we all boarded the luxuriantly empty car with enough seats for all. 

The train began to move and conversation progressed through the entire car. Every walk of life was there: college students (us), working people from the loop, and families. Making a mental note while scanning around I had noticed that there was not one visible crazy person, very odd. Suddenly, the car door behind us slid open and a large burly man came stumbling in talking to himself  under his breath. Guess I spoke too soon. Unlike most of his "el kind" he had a whole introduction of what he was doing. The rest of the el decided to toon him out as he began to sing his toon, my friends and I were intrigued the moment he said he was the poetry man in his first line. He gave so many promises to us el riders, he took us on a journey of past, present and future through our minds most delicate spot for memory. He talked about love. 

This was not the cute sappy way, but love and what it really means . With pause and reflection through his choice of words to create the picture in our minds of what our past and present was and what we want for the future in any of the relationships we have, to be. Unfortunately I could not recite the poem for you, that memory is fade like a wave... it comes inside crashing when strong tides bring it back but out within the same time like an undercurrent tide pulling it to secure hiding. However we passed him some change and he gave us a poem to read on our way off, a starving artist has guts that not many people have continuing their dream no matter what the push is. It's an inspiration within itself.

Smiles lit up all of our faces as his words effected us to see life in a different perspective just in that serendipitous moment. Most of all he taught us the power of words and how its not what you say, its how you say it. I'm not saying that I'm going to sing every statement I make, but like him I'm to use poise in thought to create food  for thought. Much more than a microwaveable lean cuisine, like a three course meal which has the complexity to keep ideas stronger as the bond of conversation ignites around this deep thought.   Thank you to the Poetry Man for teaching with his talents, some people are too scared to show those talents in thought of failure; instead of thinking he just does it.