Chicago
Under the Terrible Burden of Destiny
The War of Ages may grow quiet at times, but it never ceases. Most nights, it is fought in the struggles between the young, as
May 7, 2024
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Chicago
Debating Convictions
“Thank you for meeting me.” The silent ancient lifted his eyes from the bowl warming his hands. Those eyes traced along the distorted reflections in
April 29, 2024
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Chicago
Keys to the Second City
The City of Chicago, with its teeming mortal population, is host to some incredibly old and powerful vampires who would have you believe they alone
April 29, 2024
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Chicago
Shadows rise
The Sabbat’s Gehenna Crusade has created large groups of defectors. In many cases, conscientious objectors, or those who view the machinations of the Sabbat leaders
April 29, 2024
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Chicago
The Windy City Summit
Tensions remain at an all-time high between the Camarilla and the Anarch Movement. The Conclave of Prague saw the unprecedented assassination of Hardestadt and the
April 29, 2024
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Chicago
Hog Butcher for the World,
Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat,
Player with Railroads and the Nation’s Freight Handler;
Stormy, husky, brawling,
City of the Big Shoulders:
They tell me you are wicked and I believe them, for I have seen your painted women under the gas lamps luring the farm boys.
And they tell me you are crooked and I answer: Yes, it is true I have seen the gunman kill and go free to kill again.
And they tell me you are brutal and my reply is: On the faces of women and children I have seen the marks of wanton hunger.
And having answered so I turn once more to those who sneer at this my city, and I give them back the sneer and say to them:
Come and show me another city with lifted head singing so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning.
Flinging magnetic curses amid the toil of piling job on job, here is a tall bold slugger set vivid against the little soft cities;
Fierce as a dog with tongue lapping for action, cunning as a savage pitted against the wilderness,
Bareheaded,
Shoveling,
Wrecking,
Planning,
Building, breaking, rebuilding,
Under the smoke, dust all over his mouth, laughing with white teeth,
Under the terrible burden of destiny laughing as a young man laughs,
Laughing even as an ignorant fighter laughs who has never lost a battle,
Bragging and laughing that under his wrist is the pulse, and under his ribs the heart of the people,
Laughing!
Laughing the stormy, husky, brawling laughter of Youth, half-naked, sweating, proud to be Hog Butcher, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with Railroads and Freight Handler to the Nation.
Source: Poetry (Poetry Foundation, 1914)