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This writing was accepted for publication in the 84 page perfect-bound issue of cc&d (v226) (the November 2011 Issue, You can also order this 5.5" x 8.5" issue as an ISSN# paperback book:						This is also in this 6" x 9" ISBN# paperback “No Return” Order this 6" x 9" ISBN# book:

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Mandy on the South Side

Mark D. Cohen

I saw Mandy crossing South Park St. from West to East
Across Buick Street
While driving home from work
About two months ago, on a warm June day,
When the temperature was less oppressive than it is today

Actually, I don’t know her real name—
I’m just calling her Mandy,
And I never met her before in my life—
Unless I know her from a dream
Or another life
Or from a Barry Manilow song

She was extraordinarily beautiful,
As only twentysomethings can be
She was pushing a stroller,
With another little one by her right side
She had a tattoo on her left arm and another one on the small of her back

Mandy is a white woman in a “colored” neighbor—
Actually, “colored” is no longer a good term for any neighborhood in America
Any more
“Rainbow” is much better—
Because South Madison has Hmong, Koreans, Chinese, Latinos, African-Americans,
And people from every country on the globe

But European-Americans (like Mandy) are definitely in the minority

Mandy had a lot of energy—
By the time the light had changed,
She had crossed South Park and was heading northwards
I was sure she was on a multi-mile trek

I was glad to watch Mandy through my car window
Even though Robert Pirsig called car windows “so much television” so many years ago
I know a winner when I see one
When I look at myself in the mirror
I see less of a winner than Mandy
And I want that down for the record

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