Our waitress
takes
us down
to tour the cellar
added after
they bought the
place.
They set it up
for
private parties now
at
Valentine’s Day.
President Bush (she
doesn’t clarify which)
celebrated his
birthday here once—she says
—and
in
the close space
I contemplate
the smallness
of powerful men.
Up
we walk—
up,
up
the staircase
to patrons
clinking glasses
and slicing
into crab encrusted
steak.
We imagine
the horses
out back, back in the
day,
as lovers
now sit
in the courtyard
sipping cabernet.
Higher,
we
roam
the upper level in
quiet,
look out onto the
street,
the
mist
of
history
hanging
in
the air.
Your voice
a half-whisper of
awe,
it must
have been so cool
working out
of a station like this.
We descend
to
the door,
to the sidewalk
and rain
greets us, pattering
about
like a welcome home.
© 2014 Jennifer
Wagner
Enjoyed
our trip to the Chicago area, where my husband was born, to visit family and to
celebrate our anniversary and birthdays.
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Photo © 2014 Jennifer Wagner |
(click link if you want to know more about this historic building)
![]() |
Photo © 2014 Jennifer Wagner |
You have drawn this scene so beautifully, Jennifer with "the mist of history hanging in the air" - I almost felt as if I was intruding on such a lovely, reflective moment shared between two people who have experienced the nuances of daily life together, for so many years and, at that moment, are in exactly the same contemplative place. The last stanza, conjured up, for me, all those great romantic movie scenes shot in the rain - a perfect finish.
ReplyDeleteI loved the feelings and coziness you shared in your poem, Jennifer. You have conveyed history, the good food and wine very well. Happy belated anniversary and birthday!
ReplyDeleteI, too, like "the mist of history hanging in the air" and your husband's awe. Happy anniversary and may you enjoy many decades more of them.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this poem, Jennifer. It sounds like a most special occasion. I do love Chicago, and you made me want to visit this Chicago Firehouse Restaurant!!
ReplyDeletei bet it was pretty cool to work in an old house...my grandfather was a fireman...when he passed they gave us full honors...always chokes me up to think about it...firemen have a special place in my heart....hope you had some great celebrations...smiles.
ReplyDeletelovely. i like sense of history you imbued in the piece to match that of the place you described.
ReplyDeletethat is cool... i love to visit old houses that breathe history with every pore and have so many stories to tell.. sounds like a cool trip
ReplyDelete"I contemplate
ReplyDeletethe smallness
of powerful men"...the lines catch due attention...very much atmospheric ......beautiful
Lovely write .... being here after a long time .... seeing a difference everywhere, from the template to the writing pattern .... feels good ... Smiles!
ReplyDeleteVividly recreated, a fascinating glimpse.
ReplyDeleteVery nice writting! I feel like I toured the place myself.
ReplyDeleteLove this.. to some extent you also capture the sadness of the gentrification of what had other uses once... love how you ponder the smallness of the big men... (in that cellar tasting those expensive drops)....
ReplyDeletewonderful reflection of your time spent - must be an amazing place - K
ReplyDeletehahaha... been there, my son went to school in Chicago... I was impressed as I told him in a note when I got back to our humble NH home.
ReplyDeleteI do like the style that compliments the art of your words. Wonderful piece.
ZQ
"the mist
ReplyDeleteof history
hanging
in the air." - My favourite lines. :)
Beautifully penned.
What a nice memory of a wonderful night - of course, any night with you is wonderful...
ReplyDeletehistory echoes
ReplyDeleteas bricks acount the time
each story
Grand Jenn! _m
I'm glad you enjoyed your vacation to Chicago. And I enjoyed your tour of the cellar here.
ReplyDeleteYes, a perfect ending:
pattering about
like a welcome home
Felt as if I was with you in the cellar, in the restaurant, in the moment. The depth of thought and sensation is nicely related.
ReplyDelete