On Monday, she writes a poem.

Someone's writing "forgive" all over Chicago

November 21, 2011

Someone’s writing “forgive” all over Chicago:

on the urban reservoir between 18^th and Ashland

on the sidewalk outside Steppenwolf

on my Lake Street walk to the elevated train

in front of the yarn shop where I work with my hands
along the great lake which can be mistaken for the ocean
outside of the only bar in town which sells our favorite beer

Someone’s writing “forgive” all over Chicago

and I wish you could see it.

I don’t mean to say I wish you had come here too

(we’re past that)
 and I don't mean to say I wish you would forgive me
(although I do)
It's just that someone's writing "forgive" all over Chicago

and I really wish you could see it.

But I read somewhere that Patti’s dreams for Sam weren’t his dreams

and I know the dreams I had for you weren’t yours.
So it occurs to me that maybe
someone’s writing “forgive” all over Chicago for me.

Maybe I have to forgive myself

            for leaving

            for lying

            and finally, for telling the truth.

Maybe my poetry has too many maybes,

the water tower doesn’t say “maybe forgive,”

god didn’t say that either.

Along Lake Shore

"You know, the dreams you had for me weren't my dreams. Maybe those dreams are meant for you." 

Just Kids by Patti Smith