A Poem for Ralph Elliott – by Eric P. Martin

His efforts on a raining, cold Christmas eve

showed just how loving a man he was

A four-piece chicken dinner

he went to get for him and his wife

But tonight’s Chicago winter has nothing on the

coldness of the man that would soon take the life

of Mr. Ralph Elliot

and have his wife witness her husband’s blood

drift down the 47th street drain

along with cold rain

What’s going on Chicago?

Haven’t we had enough?

It’s Chirstmas for Christ’s sake