PoemHunter.com

An American Death,2nd revision by Scarlett Treat

10/6/2008 4:19:30 PM
Home Poets Poems Lyrics Quotations Music Forum Search Member Area Poetry E-Books Sites Mini Quiz
 

POEMS

LYRICS

MUSIC

QUOTATIONS

SEARCH

   
Scarlett Treat
(1941 / Jug Fork, Mississippi)
   • Biography  Poems  Comments  More Info  Stats  [message to the poet] 

 
 
<< prev. poem Poems by Scarlett Treat: 22 / 257 next poem >>
  
 
An American Death,2nd revision
 
  To see an American death,
see the bitter green, acrid smoke and fumes
from belching, sprawling, raw-edged factories.
See the tired, greasy figures in shabby overalls,
muted, smothered, caged automatons,
the cigarette shufflers of their generation.

See the bitter green air, foul, toxic, stinking,
belching outward from the sprawling factories.
See the tired, greasy workers, muted,
behind leaden gates that are closing
on the scalding haze, gloom choking life out.
You will see skeletal death passing within.

There are hearts aching with dull grief tonight,
for another life was claimed.
They search for, and find, memories, unanswered love,
and tears fall unbidden, carrying their sorrow to the grave.
But their spirits forever
seek and find the light.

They, suffering another American death,
have their torn shroud, full of holes,
their cloak for all their sorrows,
which is mended with silken thread,
and full of tepid tears.

Scarlett Treat


User Rating:

7.0 /10
(15 votes)



 
Comments about this poem (An American Death,2nd revision by Scarlett Treat)  more comments >>
Click here to write your comments about this poem (An American Death,2nd revision by Scarlett Treat)
 
Debbie Kean (10/9/2006 10:06:00 PM)
It's brilliant - it really conveys the grim Industrial wasteland...
Like Blake in England in the early 19th century, the 'manufactories' go on!

Deb
Duncan Wyllie (9/3/2006 12:33:00 PM)
A poem full of the aches and strains and yet a peace for them at last
Thankyou for sharing this
Love duncan X

Read all 11 comments >>
People who read Scarlett Treat also read: Classic poets in PoemHunter.Com:

The complete list >>

Lyrics

The complete list >>

QuickPoll
Overall, how would you rate our website?
Very good
Rather good
Fair
Rather poor
Very poor

 Search in the World Poetry Database => 

 Search:   in:      tips
Hide the search box!

E-MAIL THIS PAGE TO A FRIEND - Found this page interesting? Recommend it to your friend! 
 Your E-mail:  
 Friend's Email:  
   
Your
Message:

 

(c) Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge..  About Us | Copyright notice | Privacy statement | Help
10/6/2008 4:19:30 PM. You Are Here: An American Death,2nd revision by Scarlett Treat

Home | Poets | Poems | Lyrics | Music | Quotations | Forum | Search | Random Poem | Free Poetry eBooks | Contests | Sites |
Submit a Poem | Manage Your Poems | Contact Us

Christmas Poems | Love Poems | Pablo Neruda | Death Poems | Sad Poems | Birthday Poems | Wedding Poems | Annabel Lee | Sorry Poems | Winter Poems