Strong arms to carry steel
to build the tallest buildings.
Gentle hands to rock young immigrants
as they dream of a future.
The power to push aside mountains
to make new pathways for our imagination.
Enough length to hold ideas
and spread them across a land.
Enough width to feed a nation
at her steel breast.
Now forgotten, she continues her work,
still carrying a nation toward an ever-changing horizon
with the assurance of a century of toil.
She carried America on her back to the future…
and the journey continues.
Author notes
Prompt: Picture
Picture Credit: photographer, [me] Sailor Ptolema
Brevity (damn it!)… no more than 15 lines.
A contest entry
- Great PICTURE PROMPT!! Quickie! by sailor ptolema.
451 points, ended June 1, 2008, 14 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Critical Comments Always Welcome
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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I agree with Lucy this poems has a sense of pride in it, for how America was built! Wonderful poem..
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SPLENDID poem! I LOVE that you talk of all the important uses that trains have held through out history. You truly took me on a ride through history, just like I wanted.
I love: "enough length to hold ideas"..it have me shivers it was so perfect (and it's not like your poem is in any way scary
)
You use such soft word to portray this behemoth of man made steel....its a poignant contrast that does much to add depth to the piece. I feel the strong connection to the country in here....its lovely.
job well penned.
thanks for entering & g'luck -
Wonderful! This poem feels really 'proud' for want of a better way to explain it. A lovely take on the picture. Good luck in the contest.
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I'm glad the hostess is allowing you the extra lines, because you did a good job. Don't know how you could have edited it too much.
I like going to Steamtown in Scranton, PA. I like taking a ride on those old steam trains. Nice work, Ken.
Cheryl
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Wonderful
Very creative and well expressed. A terrific creation for the picture. Best of luck in the contest.
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haha
if you feel your poem is shortchanged with only 15 lines...I'll bend my rules and you can add more if you see fit.
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