To the women of the streets
I want you to know you are heard
and I wish to shine light on you
I see you
in the middle of lanes
children on backs -in arms
If it were up to me
I would give you
all the money in the world
I wish I had the time
to let you sit
talk a while
If I could
I would write pages and pages
Share all of your stories
I know a lot of you have come from far
have lived a million lives
struggle to go on
But yet I see you daily
on the streets of the city
hustling in the heat
What women you are
The strength of your souls glow
in the summer sun
The sound of your voices
echo in my mind
boom over the sound of traffic
What a privilege it is
To be able to see you
Learn from you
You are
the bravest women
I know
Mily Munoz
Artist Statement
As this work was created in response to a poem, the text was of high importance. Accordingly, the operating measure was to feature the typography prominently and to showcase it as much as the imagery. In addition, the poem presented the opportunity to include our photographs of the city as background context.
Young Chicago Authors
Young Chicago Authors offers high-quality programs that nurture artistic development, social-emotional learning, and academic success through poetry and performance. Its Rooted & Radical Youth Poetry Festival is the largest of its kind in the world, gathering over 200 youth poets from across Chicago, Chicago-land, and Northwest Indiana. The festival centers storytelling over competition and fosters listening, empathy, and creative risk. The ten poets featured here advanced through the 2025 festival and offered lines that were impossible to ignore.
Poetry Foundation
This program is made possible with support from the Poetry Foundation, which amplifies poetry and celebrates poets by fostering spaces for all to create, experience, and share poetry.
