Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AZTEC by CARL SANDBURG

Poet Analysis

First Line: YOU CAME FROM THE AZTECS
Last Line: BEFORE THE DAYS ARE LONGER.
Subject(s): AZTECS;
YOU came from the Aztecs
With a copper on your fore-arms
Tawnier than a sunset
Saying good-by to an even river.

And I said, you remember,
Those fore-arms of yours
Were finer than bronzes
And you were glad.

It was tears
And a path west
and a home-going
when I asked
Why there were scars of worn gold
Where a man's ring was fixed once
On your third finger.
And I call you
To come back
before the days are longer.



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