There was a park near this power plant where picnics took place. The cleared area beyond the plant was once occupied by a huge steel mill.
7-4-60
To the
South Side, to Bessemer Park —
In the
shadow of the electric plant
They set up
a card table, played
Pinochle
and listened to the ballgame.
Little
talking, only the barked-out bids,
‘Three
fifty!’ — while Bertha Zebelman
Et alia essayed the game of Kaluki.
In the
distance at the tail end
Of the lake
stood the steel mills
In russet
mantle clad: US Steel,
Republic
Steel, Wisconsin Steel.
Whistles sounding
no matter
The holiday,
with clanging and banging
Also sometimes
heard.
‘Three
fifty!’ ‘Four hundred!’ Four fifty!’
‘For
God’s sake, Julius!’ Hour upon hour
Until at
last as shadows lengthened
Al Farber spoke:
‘Last hand!’ Others
Then took
up the cry. ‘Last hand! Last hand!’
The women’s
game finished, the ballgame
Ended and
that fall JFK succeeded Ike.