This section publishes creative writing submissions from the public that do not necessarily reflect the views of the South Side Weekly or its editors.
The Exchange is the Weekly’s poetry corner, where a poem or piece of writing is presented with a prompt. Readers are welcome to respond to the prompt with original poems, and pieces may be featured in the next issue of the Weekly.
Concrete to Shoreline
by Chima “Naira” Ikoro
As a retired outside baby, I
learned that scraped knees aren’t the worst wounds. Now,
my tucked lips hold back tidal waves, these days
journal holds the rain that I cannot see
or take shelter from. But when I’m trying
to stay dry, it’s like mopping the ocean–
I make sandcastles on these curbs. Something
soft to play in, or get buried under.
Dye the white parts black, call it a candle
light vigil, or revolutionary.
These waves make sharp glass and litter soft, and
call it sand some day. This I know; what once
could make me bleed will become smooth, if I
make enough saltwater to cleanse the wound.
Chima Ikoro is the community organizing editor for the Weekly. She last wrote about segregation in Chicago.
Prompt
“What loving lessons has the South Side taught you?” OR “Who did the South Side make you? ”
This could be a poem or a stream-of-consciousness piece. Submissions could be new or formerly written pieces.
Submissions can be sent to bit.ly/ssw-exchange or via email to chima.ikoro@southsideweekly.com.
The last poem and prompt can be found here.
selective amnesia
by Anonymous
i remember it.
fragments come to me
in a nightmare.
at 18 when she called. tears welled in her eyes as she tried to piece the night together
on the bus
at 21 when he placed himself between my thighs.
in the middle of a lecture
at 22 after his hands had the liberty of meeting every inch of me.
moments of glee that are tainted.
mundane moments are tainted.
i remember some of it
maybe that’s godsent.