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Comment 7 of 7, added on December 3rd, 2009 at 10:43 AM.
Haunting!
I am 65 and first read this poem many years ago in a Junior High literature
book. I was mesmerized and haunted by the imagery and it compelled me to
become a writer. I looked for it for years before once more finding it.
America, pay heed, for this may be your future.
Jim Moore from United States
Comment 6 of 7, added on November 16th, 2009 at 3:38 PM.
Carl Sandburg and Louis Sullivan
The refrain has stayed with me for fifty years. When I finally refound it
today, I couldn't help think of all the architecture in Chicago who meets
the wrecking ball held by the WOMAN named To-morrow. Was this Sullivan's
Stock Exchange Room which rests now in the Art Institute of Chicago. And
where are all the other grand works? "The dust on the sill tells us
nothing."
Joanne Henriot from United States
Comment 5 of 7, added on May 17th, 2009 at 9:09 PM.
Even the great poet seems trapped in the meme "civilization". Easy for me
to say in 2008, but Spengler was of Sandburg's era. Ruins aren't
decipherable? Quite the contrary. They are the most eloquent of
instructors. I often wonder if other empires were as myopic as the poem
asserts. Even the British had the humility to school their ruling class in
antiquity. Our Empire was founded on the immersion in in this inheritance,
so quickly eclipsed by money power and now, new trance inducted serfs.
Jack from United States
Comment 4 of 7, added on October 28th, 2007 at 7:35 PM.
I've never believed that the United States would be everlasting, but I also
never believed that our position in the world should be thrown away as is
being done. The anguish is excruciationg.
Don Gerimonte from United States
Comment 3 of 7, added on July 13th, 2007 at 11:30 AM.
If you liked "Four Preludes.....", you will enjoy Percy Bisshe Shelly's
"Ozymandias." The monument's quote related to the poet stated, "My name is
Ozymandias, King of Kings, Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!" (The
scene described would be dear to an archaeologist's heart.)
Perspective curtails pride, I think.
Elaine from United States
Comment 2 of 7, added on April 21st, 2006 at 6:03 AM.
I agree with both Carl Sandburg and Mike P. Sandburg was very insightful on
what was happening to our country almost 100 years ago. Look at our
education and our politicians. "No child left behind" is undoing our
education system, and politicians now are even more treacherous and subject
to taking bribes (not all of them, but many). We DO forget that there have
been other great nations: Rome, Greece, Spain, England. America's time will
not last forever. "We are the greatest city/ We are the greatest nation/
nothing like us ever was" is going to end.
Anonymous from United States
Comment 1 of 7, added on June 1st, 2005 at 1:40 PM.
Even though this poem was penned in 1922, the message of this work rings so
true, even today. We tend to forget that prior to our time, great
civilizations have risen and fallen throughout generations. This poem
acts as a warning that we must be vigilant, or we too will only be
remembered by the fallen cedar doors, the dusty inscriptions in gold, or by
the relics found in tombs. "So what of it? Let the dead be dead!"
Mike P from United States
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I am 65 and first read this poem many years ago in a Junior High literature
book. I was mesmerized and haunted by the imagery and it compelled me to
become a writer. I looked for it for years before once more finding it.
America, pay heed, for this may be your future.
Jim Moore from United States