PRAYERS OF STEEL

Carl Sandburg – American. 1878-1967

I like this poem because it seems to sum up the necessary function of life – to have a purpose that is also a kind of poetry, or that purpose and poetry are not separate.
I’ve been writing about that in my column this month.

Collections of Carl Sandburg’s poetry are generally available.

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