And they Obey

Carl Sandburg

1878 to 1967

Poem Image

Smash down the cities 
Knock the walls to pieces 
Break the factories and cathedrals, warehouses and homes 
Into loose piles of stone and lumber and black burnt wood 
You are the soldiers and we command you 

Build up the cities. 
Set up the walls again 
Put together once more the factories and cathedrals, warehouses and homes 
Into buildings for life and labor: 
You are workmen and citizens all 
We command you.