tables and chairs
from wall to wall
with streams of
people bumping
into each other.
conversations
overlapping
with other ones
nearby,
incomprehensible
noise to some…
the joys of busy
commerce,
to others.
the smell of ink,
the pop of caps,
the ding of payments
all permeate
this space;
while plastic bags
shuffle, with the weight
of new toys, and
fabric bags fold
around arms and shoulders.
people excuse them-
selves over and over
and over, at the pen show;
just another day
in windy Chicago.

2 May 2026