Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BUILDINGS TORN DOWN', by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS Poet's Biography First Line: A savage business! Ruin of the past Last Line: Because a sturdy vandal dared destroy Subject(s): Buildings; Vandalism | ||||||||
A savage business! Ruin of the past. The wreck of roofs, the ignominious fall Of lofty tower and well-knitted wall. Strength, use, and beauty to oblivion cast. A dangerous business! Ply the pick too fast, Press too impatiently the structure tall, And this your ravage will become your pall, Destroyed and the destroyer one at last. And yet a hopeful business! In that place Waiting and clean another wall will rise, And other windows flash a morning grace. And other towers dream into the skies; And all the years will know a larger Joy Because a sturdy Vandal dared destroy. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SIGNATURE OF LOVE by KAREN SWENSON ON THE BURNING OF LORD MANSFIELD'S LIBRARY (1) by WILLIAM COWPER ON THE BURNING OF LORD MANSFIELD'S LIBRARY (2) by WILLIAM COWPER ON THE LIBRARY WINDOW by NICOLE CUDDEBACK ABANDONING ALL PRETENSE, THE VANDALS by ALAN MICHAEL PARKER IN THE WRONG POEM THE VANDALS by ALAN MICHAEL PARKER PHILOSOPHY, THE VANDALS SAY by ALAN MICHAEL PARKER PRACTICING THEIR DIFFIDENCE, THE VANDALS by ALAN MICHAEL PARKER A BATTLE SONG (WRITTEN IN THE WORLD WAR) by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS |
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