The History of Oak Park

This article was published on 06.24.04

Got a cat named Ruby,
same as my girl,
but she don’t come ’round
so much no more.

Got a body all brindled,
full-bellied and pregnant,
with milk that could tame
the strays in Oak Park.

Take her up high
to the Tower on Broadway,
look for my Ruby
in the haze off the rooftops.

See the swale of the valley
and farther, the ocean;
feel the first pangs of labor,
her at my chest.