Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PRAYERS OF STEEL by CARL SANDBURG

Poet Analysis

First Line: LAY ME ON AN ANVIL, O GOD
Last Line: WHITE STARS.
Subject(s): CITIES; SKYSCRAPERS; STEEL; URBAN LIFE;
LAY me on an anvil, O God.
Beat me and hammer me into a crowbar.
Let me pry loose old walls.
Let me lift and loosen old foundations.

Lay me on an anvil, O God.
Beat me and hammer me into a steel spike.
Drive me into the girders that hold a skyscraper together.
Take red-hot rivets and fasten me into the central girders.
Let me be the great nail holding a skyscraper through blue nights into
white stars.




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