Original Poem：
I wake and feel the city trembling.
Yes, there is something unsettled in the air
And the earth is uncertain.
And so it was for the tenor Caruso.
He couldn’t sleep—you know how the ovation
Rings in your ears, and you re-sing your part.
And then the ceiling trembled
And the floor moved. He ran into the street.
Never had Naples given him such a reception!
The air was darker than Vesuvius.
“
O mamma mia
,”
He cried, “I’ve lost my voice!”
At that moment the hideous voice of Culture,
Hysterical woman, thrashing her arms and legs,
Shrieked from the ruins.
At that moment everyone became a performer.
Otello and Don Giovanni
And Figaro strode on the midmost stage.
In the high window of a burning castle
Lucia raved. Black horses
Plunged through fire, dragging the wild bells.
The curtains were wrapped in smoke. Tin swords
Were melting; masks and ruffs
Burned—and the costumes of the peasants’ chorus.
Night fell. The white moon rose
And sank in the Pacific. The tremors
Passed under the waves. And Death rested.
2
Now, as we stand idle,
Watching the silent, bowler-hatted man,
The engineer, who writes in the smoking field;
Now as he hands the paper to a boy,
Who takes it and runs to a group of waiting men,
And they disperse and move toward their wagons,
Mules bray and the wagons move—
Wait! Before you start
(Already the wheels are rattling on the stones)
Say, did your fathers cross the dry Sierras
To build another London?
Do Americans always have to be second-rate?
Wait! For there are spirits
In the earth itself, or the air, or sea.
Where are the aboriginal American devils?
Cloud shadows, pine shadows
Falling across the bright Pacific bay ...
(Already they have nailed rough boards together)
Wait only for the wind
That rustles in the eucalyptus tree.
Wait only for the light
That trembles on the petals of a rose.
(The mortar sets—banks are the first to stand)
Wait for a rose, and you may wait forever.
The silent man mops his head and drinks
Cold lemonade. “San Francisco
Is a city second only to Paris.”
3
Every night, at the end of America
We taste our wine, looking at the Pacific.
How sad it is, the end of America!
While we were waiting for the land
They’d finished it—with gas drums
On the hilltops, cheap housing in the valleys
Where lives are mean and wretched.
But the banks thrive and the realtors
Rejoice—they have their America.
Still, there is something unsettled in the air.
Out there on the Pacific
There’s no America but the Marines.
Whitman was wrong about the People,
But right about himself. The land is within.
At the end of the open road we come to ourselves.
Though mad Columbus follows the sun
Into the sea, we cannot follow.
We must remain, to serve the returning sun,
And to set tables for death.
For we are the colonists of Death—
Not, as some think, of the English.
And we are preparing thrones for him to sit,
Poems to read, and beds
In which it may please him to rest.
This is the land
The pioneers looked for, shading their eyes
Against the sun—a murmur of serious life.
Analysis and Interpretation of the Poem
This evocative poem captures a profound sense of unrest and transformation within a city and, by extension, a society. It opens with the image of a city trembling, reflecting both literal and metaphorical instability. The mention of the famous tenor Caruso, who experiences sleeplessness and loses his voice amidst the chaos, symbolizes the disruption of art, culture, and human expression during times of upheaval.
The poem vividly portrays scenes of destruction and performance blending together — cultural icons like Otello, Don Giovanni, and Figaro appear on a burning stage, symbolizing how art and tragedy intertwine. The imagery of fire, smoke, melting swords, and burning costumes evokes a sense of collapse but also transformation, as night falls and the moon rises, signaling cycles of death and renewal.
In the second section, the focus shifts to the human response to change. The silent engineer and the workers preparing to move evoke themes of progress, migration, and the building of new societies. Yet, the poem questions the cost of such progress, asking whether Americans must always be "second-rate" and reminding us of the spirits and histories embedded in the land — the "aboriginal American devils" and natural shadows that linger beneath human constructions.
The final section reflects on the end of an era, the "end of America," where the land has been consumed by industrialization and urban sprawl, leaving behind a landscape where lives are "mean and wretched," but banks and realtors prosper. The poem contrasts the romantic idealism of pioneers and poets like Whitman with the harsh reality of colonialism and death, suggesting that the true colonists are those who prepare for death, not conquest.
Overall, the poem is a meditation on cultural identity, historical legacy, and the tension between creation and destruction. It invites readers to consider the deeper meaning of progress and the cost it exacts on human life, culture, and the environment.
Background and Author Introduction
This poem is reminiscent of the style of modernist poets who explore themes of urbanization, cultural change, and existential uncertainty. The reference to Caruso, a legendary Italian tenor, and historical operatic characters situates the poem in a rich cultural context, blending classical art with contemporary social commentary.
The poem likely emerges from a period of significant social and political upheaval, possibly reflecting the early 20th century when cities like Naples and San Francisco were undergoing rapid transformation. The mention of "the engineer" and "the silent man" hints at industrial progress and the rise of modern urban life.
The author, through vivid imagery and symbolic language, critiques the superficial achievements of modern society while honoring the deeper, often overlooked spiritual and cultural roots of the land and its people.
Lessons and Educational Value for Children and Students
From this poem, children and students can learn several important lessons:
- Cultural Awareness: Understanding how history, culture, and art are intertwined with social and political events.
- Imagery and Symbolism: Recognizing how poets use vivid images and symbols (like fire, smoke, and famous operatic characters) to convey complex ideas.
- Historical Reflection: Gaining insight into the effects of migration, colonization, and industrialization on communities and the environment.
- Critical Thinking: Encouraging students to question the idea of "progress" and consider its impact on human life and nature.
- Emotional Expression: Exploring how art and poetry express human emotions during times of crisis and change.
Practical Applications and Inspirations
- In literature classes, students can analyze the poem’s structure, themes, and use of metaphor.
- In history or social studies, the poem can serve as a starting point to discuss urbanization, migration, and indigenous histories.
- In environmental education, the poem’s references to nature and destruction can inspire discussions on conservation and sustainability.
- For creative writing, students can be encouraged to write their own poems or stories about change, identity, or cultural heritage.
- In life lessons, the poem teaches resilience and awareness of the deeper forces shaping our world, encouraging mindfulness and respect for history.
Reading Comprehension Questions
- What does the trembling city symbolize in the poem?
- Why is the tenor Caruso unable to sleep, and what does losing his voice represent?
- How does the poem portray the relationship between culture and destruction?
- What is the significance of the "silent, bowler-hatted man" and the engineer?
- What questions does the poem raise about progress and the building of new societies?
- How does the poem describe the "end of America"? What emotions does this evoke?
- What does the poem suggest about the true "colonists of Death"?
- How do natural elements like the wind, light, and shadows contribute to the poem’s meaning?
- Why does the poem reference historical and operatic figures such as Otello, Don Giovanni, and Figaro?
- What overall message or theme do you think the poet wants to convey?
Answer Key
- The trembling city symbolizes instability and change, both physical and metaphorical, reflecting social and cultural unrest.
- Caruso cannot sleep because the ovation rings in his ears, symbolizing the lasting impact of fame and performance. Losing his voice represents a loss of expression amid chaos.
- The poem shows culture as both fragile and hysterical, intertwined with destruction, as seen in the burning stage and ruined costumes.
- The silent man and engineer represent progress and industrialization, but also the impersonal forces shaping society.
- The poem questions whether progress leads to true improvement or just second-rate copies of other cultures, and whether it ignores deeper spiritual and historical roots.
- The "end of America" is described as sad and disappointing, marked by exploitation and loss of meaning, evoking feelings of regret and sorrow.
- The "colonists of Death" are those who prepare for mortality and the inevitable end, rather than conquerors or settlers.
- Natural elements symbolize enduring life and spirits beyond human control, contrasting with human destruction and construction.
- These figures represent cultural heritage and artistic expression, highlighting the tension between enduring art and transient human struggles.
- The poet conveys a message about the costs of progress, the importance of cultural memory, and the inevitability of change and mortality.
This poem offers rich material for exploration, encouraging students to think deeply about history, culture, and the human condition through the lens of poetic expression.
