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enjoy this writing in the 6" x 9" 2015 ISBN# paperback book the Chosen Few Click on the cover or any linked text to get a copy of the Chosen Few			Enjoy this 2015 Chicago open mic book as a snapshot of writings read on stage by assorted Chicago open mic writers as performed in shows from 2012-2015 at “the Café Gallery” open mic as a 6"x9" perfect-bound paperback ISBN# book!

Open Letter To Woody Guthrie

Jerry Pendergast

You sang
“What were their names?”
to the crew of a ship
in peril.
The Ruben James escaped
Your song eased some tension.

The radio voice said
“They were just deportees”.
You wrote, chanted
4 nombres that came to mind
For the farm workers
hurled from the DC3
at Los Gato Canyon

You were right with three
Close with one.

Seniors Rascon Y Hernandez
found the names
Fixed spelling of names
Found Jaime Ramirez, Lance Canales
Raised money with
Concerts, bake sales.
for a new stone
with the names,
Saint Isadore
and falling leaves.

If you could perform
at the Labor Day Dedication
Would you have written a new verse?
Maybe Arlo will someday.
He loves to stretch songs out anyway.

With a voice as clear as possible
With hands that once worked fields,
alone and with other hard travelers
you strummed and sang many ears open
to voices and hands often ignored,
Fighting an attacker within
untill your voice and hands
were no longer at your command

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