The Magician

by Charlie Townsley

Waiting at the crosswalk, I saw a magician today. Displaying mastery of everyday magic. He aimed a finger gun Point.

Red Traffic stopped The street transformed and I crossed.

Shoot. to at the stoplight Voila. green. a miracle

Grandma would understand. She who first taught me the enchantments of cities. From whose heart the routine miracles The conjuring The magnetism on common ground.

I remember riding the El together when I was young Not to understand the city’s profound intricacy.

She taught me then, that through the alchemy of shared space everyone can charm common moments into the sublime.

These lessons had dimmed. But a crosswalk magician And how every moment can be magic.

I first learned of trains of construction sites of strangers into Chicago enough but to feel today reminded me of her

About the Author: Charlie Townsley

Charlie Townsley is an organic farm boy from Wisconsin who, after getting a bachelor’s degree in architecture at the University of Minnesota and practicing architecture in Minneapolis for a couple years, is now in his second year of Penn’s Master’s in City and Regional Planning program. Charlie’s program concentration is in Housing, Community, and Economic Development and he is passionate about all things related to community building and empowerment.