Amidst cicadas roaring as the August moon waned new,
in Uptown, where the lakefront parks are lined with tarps and tents,
the stewards of tomorrow came to camp and demonstrate
the meaning of the People – what is possible to do.
We made peace with our broken pieces, homes with zero rents,
a glimpse of what the world could be – a scene to emulate
in open disregard to those who buy and speculate
upon the land as their own private wealth, and build a fence.
We say the ones who call it home must build this land anew
And woe to those who see our size and underestimate.
The covenant is broken; we are here to make amends.
And day by day, we watched our tents and saw how our camp grew
despite evictions, lies and threats and storms, still we remain
in RiseUpTown, where we the people always rise again.
