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American Dream Poems

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Samir Jesus Amor Leyva
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37 views5 pages

American Dream Poems

Uploaded by

Samir Jesus Amor Leyva
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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“The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus contrasts the Statue of Liberty with the

comparison ancient colossus statues that


Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, symbolized power and conquest.
With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Instead, Liberty represents a
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand welcoming figure, the "Mother of
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Exiles," offering refuge and hope to the
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand world's outcasts. The poem
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command emphasizes America as a land of
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. opportunity for the "tired," "poor," and
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she "homeless" seeking freedom. Lazarus
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, calls for the downtrodden to find solace
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, and opportunity in America, symbolized
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. by the Statue of Liberty's torch lighting
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, the way to a new life at the "golden
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
door."
n/a
Source: Emma Lazarus: Selected Poems and Other Writings (2002)

From: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46550/the-new-colossus

“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, personal well being
The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.

n/a
Source: Selected Poems (1991)

From: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46480/i-hear-america-singing

celebrates the diverse voices of American workers, each expressing


joy in their unique tasks, from mechanics and carpenters to mothers
and young wives. The poem emphasizes the pride and strength found
in their individual songs, highlighting the unity and vibrancy of
American life as everyone contributes to a harmonious collective
melody.
racism
“I, Too” by Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.


They send me to eat in the kitchen
asserts his identity as a Black man in
When company comes, America. Despite being sent to eat in the
But I laugh, kitchen, he remains resilient and
And eat well, envisions a future where he sits at the
And grow strong. table. The poem conveys pride and
strength, emphasizing that African
Tomorrow, Americans are an essential part of the
I’ll be at the table American identity.
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.

Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

Langston Hughes, "I, Too" from The Collected Works of Langston Hughes. Copyright © 2002 by
Langston Hughes. Reprinted by permission of Harold Ober Associates, Inc. Source: 2004

From: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47558/i-too
“lady liberty” by Tato Laviera call of actions
for liberty, your day filled in splendor, the statue of liberty
july fourth, new york harbor, nineteen eighty-six,
midnight sky, fireworks splashing,
heaven exploding
into radiant bouquets,
wall street a backdrop of centennial adulation,
computerized capital angling cameras reflects on the symbolism and struggles of
celebrating the international symbol of freedom the Statue of Liberty during the 1986
stretched across micro-chips, the statue of liberty centennial celebration. He contrasts the
awacs surveillance, joyous festivities with the statue's decay and
wall-to-wall people, sailing ships, the broader societal issues facing America,
gliding armies ferried
including inequality and the needs of the
in pursuit of happiness, constitution adoration,
packaged television channels for liberty, marginalized. Laviera emphasizes that true
immigrant illusions liberty must encompass all people, urging
celebrated in the name of democratic principles, America to address its weaknesses rather
god bless america, land of the star than just celebrate its achievements. He calls
spangled banner for a collective touch of freedom that honors
that we love, and uplifts everyone, envisioning a future
decay where Lady Liberty can genuinely celebrate
but the symbol suffered her ideals of equality and justice.
one hundred years of decay
climbing up to the spined crown,
the fractured torch hand,
the ruptured intestines,
palms blistered and calloused,
feet embroidered in rust,
centennial decay,
the lady's eyes,
cataract filled, exposed
to sun and snow, a salty wind,
discolored verses staining her robe,
Decay
she needed re-molding, re-designing,
the decomposed body
now melted down for souvenirs,
lungs and limbs jailed
in scaffolding of ugly cubicles
incarcerating the body
as she prepared to receive
her twentieth-century transplant
paid for by pitching pennies,
hometown chicken barbecues,
marathons on america's main streets.
she heard the speeches:
political figures
the president's
the french and american partners,
the nation believed in her, rooted for the queen,
and lady liberty decided to reflect
on lincoln's emancipatory resoluteness
on washington's patriotism,
on jefferson's lucidity,
on william jennings bryan's socialism,
on woodrow wilson's league of nations,
on roosevelt's new deal,
on kennedy's ecumenical postures,
and on martin luther king's non-violence.

lady liberty decided to reflect


on lillian wald's settlements,
on helen keller's sixth sense,
on susan b. anthony's suffrage movement,
on mother cabrini's giving soul,
on harriet tubman's stubborn pursuit of freedom.

just before she was touched,


just before she was dismantled,
lady liberty spoke,
she spoke for the principles,
for the preamble,
for the bill of rights,
and thirty-nine peaceful
presidential transitions,
and, just before she was touched,
lady liberty wanted to convey
her own resolutions,
her own bi-centennial goals,
so that in twenty eighty-six,
she would be smiling and she would be proud.
and then, just before she was touched,
and then, while she was being re-constructed,
and then, while she was being celebrated,
she spoke.
Refrain
if you touch me, touch ALL of my people
who need attention and societal repair,
give the tired and the poor
the same attention, AMERICA,
touch us ALL with liberty,
touch us ALL with liberty.

hunger abounds, our soil is plentiful,


our technology advanced enough
to feed the world,
to feed humanity's hunger . . .
but let's celebrate not our wealth,
not our sophisticated defense,
not our scientific advancements,
not our intellectual adventures.
let us concentrate on our weaknesses,
on our societal needs,
for we will never be free
if indeed freedom is subjugated
to trampling upon people's needs.

this is a warning,
my beloved america.
Refrain
so touch me,
and in touching me
touch all our people.
do not single me out,
touch all our people,
touch all our people,
all our people
our people
people.

and then i shall truly enjoy


my day, filled in splendor,
july fourth, new york harbor,
nineteen eighty-six, midnight sky,
fireworks splashing,
heaven exploding
into radiant bouquets,
celebrating in the name of equality,
in the pursuit of happiness,
god bless america,
land of star
spangled banner
that we love.

Tato Laviera, "lady liberty" from Benedición: The Complete Poetry of Tato Laviera. Copyright © 2014 by
Tato Laviera. Reprinted by permission of Arte Público Press.
Source: Benedición: The Complete Poetry of Tato Laviera (Arte Público Press, 2014)

From: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/58195/lady-liberty

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