Anna Imroth - From Chicago Songs by EricMalmquist

This and more recordings of modern American song available for purchase here: http://www.vox3.org/releases/new-song/
(look down the page for physical and digital purchase options)

Baritone Sean Stanton and pianist James Morehead perform, both of the VOX3 Collective in Chicago: http://www.vox3.org/

ANNA IMROTH from Carl Sandburg's Chicago Poems (1916)

Cross the hands over the breast here—so.
Straighten the legs a little more—so.
And call for the wagon to come and take her home.
Her mother will cry some and so will her sisters and brothers.
But all of the others got down and they are safe and this is the only one of the factory girls who wasn’t lucky in making the jump when the fire broke.
It is the hand of God and the lack of fire escapes.