I Hear America Singing
By Walt Whitman
I hear America singing the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam.
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,
The wood-cutter’s song, the ploughboy’s on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing,
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.
Response to I Hear America Singing
By Harry Trumfio
I too hear America singing but the carols I hear,
Are not those of contentment Mr. Whitman heard being sung
Blue-collar laborers sing of being left far behind
White-collar workers sing of disappointment with their place in life
Hip-hop singers are reciting songs of hatred and violence
White supremacists are marching and chanting vile Nazi slogans
Many employees sing of being displaced by robots and jobs shipped overseas
Migrant workers replace family farmers who once sung in their fields
Working mothers of today are singing of longing to be with their children
At their jobs, women hum lullabies and dream of mothering their young
It is so sad today the songs being sung at angry un-democratic rallies
I now sing sadly about how divisive our country has become
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| Writing Prompt |
Copy one your Favorite Poems from one of your Favorite Poets. (Include Author's name)
Then write a Poem as an answer or response to it in your own words.
Leave a couple spaces between the original and your poem. (Include your name the same as you did with the original) |
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