Elegy in a West Side Ball Park

by Ring Lardner

Published in the Chicago Tribune on April 20, 1916, as a tribute to West Side Grounds on the same day the Chicago Cubs played their first game at Weeghman Field.

Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight.
Save for the chatter of the laboring folk
Returning to their hovels for the night,
All is still at Taylor, Lincoln, Wood and Polk.
Beneath this aged roof, this grandstand’s shade,
Where peanut shucks lie in a mold’ring heap,
Where show the stains of pop and lemonade,
The Cub bugs used to cheer and groan and weep.

 

2 Replies to “Elegy in a West Side Ball Park”

  1. That’s beautiful. After going to the game last night, yes it is glorious still and of course had to be renovated for the throngs that now come in droves, but oh to go back in time…. Personally I long for the days the crowd wasn’t glued to their cell phones and all the boards even are somewhat distracting to me, I miss just the old scoreboard

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