Port Chicago - pipTalk Forums

How to Join	Member's Area	Private Library	Search	Sanctuary		Login
Main Forums	Discussion	Tech Talk	Mature Content	Archives	A home without a wall, Our haven without ends, A circle we all call Our Family of Friends!

Corinne
Member Ascendant

since 1999-10-28

Posts 5167
state of confusion

0 posted 2002-09-10 03:37 PM

Port Chicago

They are allowed to gather here
once a year -
the few lingering survivors
and descendants of the dead.
Some come to understand,
others to remember
or not remember.

Sixty seasons
have washed away
remains –
the iron wreckage
and
lumps of metal
and flesh
that had strewn
miles away from the blast.

A pristine bay-front cenotaph
overlays the incidental bone yard,
pain paved over
in tidy concrete cobblestones
dotted with murmuring palms;
set against a bleak backdrop
of the blackened, broken spines
of Pier One.

Nearby, active weapon magazines
bring a sting of reality.

There, a solitary man
stands –
stone-still against the bay,
a wrinkled pardon
in his ebony hands.

© 2002 Corinne Bailey

To read about the Port Chicago tragedy:
http://www.usmm.org/portchicago.html

and

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/07/05/EB182751.DTL

[This message has been edited by Corinne (09-10-2002 10:16 PM).]

geenabee
Member

since 2002-09-10

Posts 59
NC--USA

1 posted 2002-09-10 03:40 PM

Corinne...
wow this is stupendous.

I think there is no better tribute than what you have created.

beauty in words, my friend.

thanks for sharing this.

glad ta read ya
geenabee

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean

since 2002-08-27

Posts 40215
Realms of Light

2 posted 2002-09-10 03:43 PM

The Great Chicago Fire??? That one was for the history books! I did not know that people still gathered to pay their respects.
Thank you for sharing this poem with us.
I'll send a prayer across the miles in memory of those who lost their lives and for those who they left behind.

God bless you all!

Earth Angel

Interloper

Member Rara Avis

since 2000-11-06

Posts 8369
Deep in the heart

3 posted 2002-09-10 03:52 PM

I love the piece VERY much. I am, however, confused.
1943 was WWII
Why the pardon?
The USS Chicago was sunk in 1943.
Please help me understand

Fool, said my Muse to me, look in thy heart and write.

Moonlight Romeo

Senior Member

since 2001-09-10

Posts 982
The heart of you

4 posted 2002-09-10 03:53 PM

Tragedy knows no year, nor no time.

Thank you.

What light through yon window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

Corinne
Member Ascendant

since 1999-10-28

Posts 5167
state of confusion

5 posted 2002-09-10 04:28 PM

Thanks all, for your replies. Please see the links above for information about Port Chicago.

Port Chicago was a munitions transfer facility not too far from San Francisco.
African Americans were "used" to hand-carry and ferry munitions - ranging from bullets to 2000 lb bombs - onto ships. Most were not trained in the handling of munituions and speed often outweighed caution.

On July 17th, 1944 - an explosion (cause: undetermined) destroyed the town of Port Chicago, blew up two ships and killed 320 men near the pier or on the ships, most were African Americans.

After the incident, some of the men refused to return to the job, causing a mutany. Many were imprisoned.

Only recently, pardons have begun to be issued, but most of the survivors are dead - since they would be around 80 years of age now.

Corinne

Logan
Senior Member

since 2001-05-28

Posts 1641
Arkansas

6 posted 2002-09-10 05:34 PM

Yes, Cor, hon. You tell it true...very well done, but then, very gentle smile..you always did so

Mistletoe Angel

Member Empyrean

since 2000-12-17

Posts 32816
Portland, Oregon

7 posted 2002-09-10 07:13 PM

(tears fall down my cheeks) Oh Corinne, thank you so much for clarifying the history up as I too would have read it wrong, this is very sad and I wouldn't blame everyone for not returning to work after grieving their workmates losses! (big hugggsssss) God Bless You, sweet friend, this is a powerful tribute, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Corinne, thank you for sharing!

May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

"Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..."

Shakira

hoot_owl_rn
Member Patricius

since 1999-07-05

Posts 10750
Glen Hope, PA USA

8 posted 2002-09-10 08:20 PM

Corrine...you have a talent for expressing things in the most perfect words that makes me jealous to the core

What a piece you've created here and the lines:

"a wrinkled pardon
in his ebony hands."

FABULOUS!!!!!!

RMW
Senior Member

since 2001-03-21

Posts 1424

9 posted 2002-09-11 04:22 PM

Well done.

	⇧ top of page ⇧
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.