Gershon Wolf Poet Rhyme

Wake Up, Chicago

Wake up, Chicago, before it's too late
  Murders are rising at an alarming rate
Multiple car-jackings every day
  We're a criminal's paradise -- hey, hey!

As for classroom education, give me a break
  The teachers just told the students, 'Go jump in the lake'
They're 'ready to report' when every last teacher and kid gets the vaccine
  If I weren't so polite, I'd call that demand 'freaking obscene'

Population's racing for the exits, more folks every day
  Why stay in a city where crime always pays
The downtown's a ghost-town, which means less revenue
  Increasing the tax burden on 'lifers' like me and you

Well, now that I've introduced you to my hometown
  I'll tell you the problem that's really the big one
All the restaurants, bars and clubs are tightly locked down
  ~ You'll have to hit the tattoo parlors* to have any fun



___________________________________________________________  
*In its infinite wisdom the government has kept tattoo parlors open (!) 
throughout the pandemic, as 'essential services' (!), while imposing
draconian restrictions and lockdowns on restaurants, clubs, gyms, 
small businesses, and other assorted victims of 'the Chicago Way.'

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Eric Cohen January 28, 2021 at 6:20 PM Well, I moved to Oak Park back in the Super Bowl shuffle days. Just over the line on what we used to call the Eisenhower L. But it was Cicero that had my dander up. Headed back east for some of the reasons you mentioned. Still, I miss the place. Gershon Wolf January 28, 2021 at 7:15 PM Hey, Eric. I can't remember when it 'turned,' but I remember when Cicero was a homogenous blend of Catholics from Eastern Europe, and a cross was burned on the lawn of a black couple who dared to move in some time between 1966 - 1969. Boy, does that sound like ancient history now... Is all the change for the better?! -- A moot point.... Didn't they used to say, Go 'East,' young man?! LOL ~ California (Street) Dreamin'

Panagiota Romios January 28, 2021 at 1:58 PM As an former Chicagoan, the city was going goofy when I left in 1972! Am aware how awful it is now.Ny, CA and my state have lunatic governors. All three states, closed and ruining the US economy. If younger, I would mosey on out. Covid started it China. I know you know that. Other people don't get it. CNN sure poisons minds with infected truisms. Rather than face problems, they seek blame. A fAv for me, Pangie xx Gershon Wolf January 28, 2021 at 4:19 PM Yup. You know the story, Pangie. Here in Illinois, in addition to the draconian governor, we've got a mayor of Chicago, a very sincerely person (I think), who's just so far to the left that she's 'right about everything.' Oy, vey! ~ G-d will decide the issue when He's good and ready. Faith and Perseverance, Gershon

Rico Leffanta January 28, 2021 at 10:54 AM Gyms have proven to be a primary centre of contagion, yet our former mayor gave them a lockdown break. A jogger, he determined an unmasked jogger running by an elderly couple waiting at a bus stop also posed no risk to their health. All around the world, we see politicians insisting a pandemic is an opportunity to reap political favours. At his inauguration, Trump promised, "America First" and he departed with America First in COVID-19 deaths and infections! Aloha! Rico Gershon Wolf January 28, 2021 at 4:18 PM Well, I don't have statistics on gyms. You may be right. Or it may be due to people unmasking during workouts, as I've seen and heard anecdotal information to that effect... As for schools, all the data points to less danger in schools than in staying home for the kids. In Chicago's private and religious school systems, the % of cases reported is less than 1/10 of 1% of students, with nothing close to a hospitalization. And that's well over 2,000 students in school since September... At any rate, we'll keep talkin.' Peace, Gershon

Kim Rodrigues January 28, 2021 at 10:03 AM Chicago the city of sin! Shows you that the devil’s in full monstrosity. But...God is watching! Gershon Wolf January 28, 2021 at 4:14 PM Yeah, Chicago - Not My Kind of Town, Mr. Sinatra! lol. Good point about G-d watching. Better than Big Brother watching. ~ gw Panagiota Romios January 28, 2021 at 2:01 PM Hi Kim, I am from there. In my day it was not ugly. Over the decades it worsened. Sorry to see that, Pangie

Andrea Dietrich January 28, 2021 at 9:17 AM the world has gone mad. Covid was planned to set it in motion. You will see more and more stupidity happen and the masses are going along with it. Sorry about Chicago. That is horrible. Gershon Wolf January 28, 2021 at 4:13 PM Chicago is, indeed, pretty bad... although my own neighborhood is still ok, at least so far... Here's to Sanity, Gershon

Tom Cunningham January 28, 2021 at 1:49 AM Wow, the world's gone mad, places of worship that would go a long way to helping peoples mental state shut too, agh well get a nice tattoo to cheer themselves up. Tom Gershon Wolf January 28, 2021 at 4:12 PM Yeah, a nice tattoo; that'll do a lot of good, eh?! What can we say? The world is upside down, for sure. Hang in there, Tom! Cheers, Gershon

Harry Horsman January 28, 2021 at 1:30 AM Oh dear, i'm reading so many stories and poems akin to this one, Gershon. i wonder if the tattoo parlour is run by the mob, or indeed the mayor owns it...Poetry like this needs to be archived to show others 'The way we are' ?? Gershon Wolf January 28, 2021 at 4:11 PM Well, there are actually a number of tattoo parlors, but I wouldn't be surprised if gangsters and/or the pols are taking their 'cut of the action.' I'll get Barbara Streisand to sing 'The Way We Were (and Are),' and we'll be all set, Harry. Thanks for your prescient comment, and Stay Sane, Gershon