sheridan & irving park

tonight, i went to my first poetry slam.

very fun!

what overshadowed the night, though, was my ride back.

i was waiting at a bus stop and talking with an older african-american man.

a police car pulled in front of us, rolled down his window and asked if i was okay.

i was, so i said gave a thumbs up.

the cop asked again, so i verbally said 'yes.' and he drove on.

the guy i was talking to scoffed quietly and said something like, 'i'm a 60-year old man... good god.'

and i was torn.

i was glad for the cop to ask how i was, to know that they are patrolling the streets.

but i was sad that such an overt act of racism occurred.

i'm not quite sure what to think. the old man and i had a very nice conversation after that. so i felt doubly bad because it seemed very unmerited.

oh jesus, let your kingdom come.