Chicago rises from ashes, tall 
buildings scraping now-hidden sky.

National character built – hardship, 
generosity, new frontiers.

Now begins conquest of darkness
passing of era, its namesake queen.

But Pittsburgh a filthy city, 
sewer waste running into river

Factories burning coal spewed smoke,
until darkened sun refused to shine.

Masses arriving for jobs, children of twelve
working late into night.

Age of invention, science hailed as truth
Henry Ford’s well-oiled machine