Grass Poem by Carl Sandburg

Grass

Rating: 3.2


Pile the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo.
Shovel them under and let me work--
          I am the grass; I cover all.

And pile them high at Gettysburg
And pile them high at Ypres and Verdun.
Shovel them under and let me work.
Two years, ten years, and the passengers ask the conductor:
          What place is this?
          Where are we now?

          I am the grass.
          Let me work.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Goldy Locks 19 February 2007

Last two lines are priceless.

181 12 Reply
Merrilyn Winters 26 November 2016

The members of the US Military backed Donald Trump, fueled by their hatred of HRC, This Election might lead to many more dead, as the MIC is being privatized. Must we as Civilians continue to call them heroes as forces (student loans) push them into service, and propaganda(recent film) send them in to fight for Christianity? (as Putin embraced the ROC) . It is time to resist........

3 6 Reply
John poetry 15 December 2021

Oh, off! ! !

0 0
Sophy Chen 08 February 2015

I do not understand this poem

6 11 Reply
Doug Profitt 13 May 2018

Sophy- Like you, I had very little understanding of this poem the first time I read it. If I understand the essence of this poem, it is very powerful and true; and maybe intended as heart-felt satire. Unfortunately the format informed me to limit my response to 300 characters which I can’t do.

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Brian Conklin 04 July 2012

It is a great poem but now I came back from OEF, one of those faceless names at Arlington was my friend. Before he was killed by an IED we laughed, shared jokes, talked about the future, he even gave me advice about my son. The grass does take over but some still remember. Gettysburg and Ypres are long ago but my friend was not and he was a real person with friends and family. I guess he was just like like those guys at Gettysburg and Ypres. I miss him but he was real and he was my friend.

30 11 Reply
Jane Moon 15 May 2009

The horrific deeds or war, destruction of men, incomprehensible evils, all seem eradicated by nature's gentle work. Grass covers all, in time, but should the devastation be forgotten?

32 10 Reply
Basil Demple 21 November 2007

One of Sandburg's best.

27 9 Reply
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