Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AND THEY OBEY by CARL SANDBURG

Poet Analysis

First Line: SMASH DOWN THE CITIES
Last Line: YOU ARE WORKMEN AND CITIZENS ALL: WE COMMAND YOU.
Subject(s): DUTY; SOLDIERS; WORLD WAR I; FIRST WORLD WAR;
SMASH down the cities.
Knock the walls to pieces.
Break the factories and cathedrals, warehouses and homes
Into loose piles of stone and lumber and black burnt wood:
You are the soldiers and we command you.

Build up the cities.
Set up the walls again.
Put together once more the factories and cathedrals, warehouses and homes
Into buildings for life and labor:
You are workmen and citizens all: We command you.



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