Picture courtesy Google
I am the people—the
mob—the crowd—the mass.
this line I love so much
amidst all fury and opinions
someone wants to paint me real, alive!
self-proclaimed greats of our land
they howl too much, it was not my
voice,
it is not!
I am the workingman, the inventor,
the maker of the world’s food and clothes.
I am the audience that witnesses
history.
I have my own voice,
but, am I misled sometimes,
do I have the right education,
do I have the right wisdom,
am I kept in a cage?
explosion of knowledge
around me
explosion of freedom
around me
am I trapped?
what was the right mixture,
the right mixture of nobility,
freedom and responsibility?
I am the seed ground. I am a prairie
that will stand for much ploughing. Terrible storms pass over me. I forget. The
best of me is sucked out and wasted. I forget. Everything but Death comes to me
and makes me work and give up what I have. And I forget.
Sometimes I growl, shake myself and
spatter a few red drops for history to remember. Then—I forget.
I forget a lot
I, sometimes don’t revise my lessons
I forget and learn only to earn
I forget that I am the mob,
the people, from which my world
emanates
is there a right potion of education
for me,
the right kind of teachers for me
the right kind of civic sense to
impart?
.... for
The mob—the crowd—the mass—will
arrive then.
Visit dVerse for more on “cover” a poem by a poet whom you
admire. I chose 'I am the people' by Carl Sandburg.
I imagine this is Sandburg's poem: https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/i-am-people-mob
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I read his poem. Thanks.
Interesting watching your teacher version and your conversation to yourself.
yes...I have added it now...thank you...
DeleteIt is a very good thing when the world wants to paint you real and alive - a poem within a poem
ReplyDeletethank you...
DeleteI wasn't acquainted with the original (not being American is my excuse) so I looked it up and found it here: https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/i-am-people-mob It's quite wonderful, isn't it? And I think your response has a charm of its own.
ReplyDeleteI love Carl Sandburg's "I am the people' much, it talks for the common man. We learned this poem in school. Thank you...
Deletereally like this...how the narrator is both the witness of everything, but also the one who forgets. In a sense, a victim and a perpetrator at the same time.
ReplyDeleteYes, an amazing cover Sreeja ~ I love your questions specially:
ReplyDeleteI have my own voice,
but, am I misled sometimes,
do I have the right education,
do I have the right wisdom,
am I kept in a cage?
I really like your response, as well as the original.. actually also feels very apt for these days.
ReplyDeleteAn valuable message and you covered it well. Thanks
ReplyDelete