Читать книгу An Alternative History of Pittsburgh - Э.Д. - Страница 5

Massive water

flowing morning and night throughout a city

girded with ninety bridges. Sumptuous-shouldered,

sleek-thighed, obstinate and majestic, unquenchable.

All grip and flood, mighty sucking and deep-rooted grace.

A city of brick and tired wood. Ox and sovereign spirit.

Primitive Pittsburgh. Winter month after month telling

of death. The beauty forcing us as much as harshness.

Our spirits forged in that wilderness, our minds forged

by the heart. Making together a consequence of America.

—Jack Gilbert, “Searching for Pittsburgh”

Pennsylvania’s western daughter,

with your tubes of liberty.

Princess of pig iron slaughter,

with your boyfriend Carnegie.

Oh you were stained glass,

you were smoke stacked,

you were laid in cobblestone.

You were trolley car tracked,

And for you the red sky shown.

—Loudon Wainwright III, “Ode to Pittsburgh”