Poem by Carl Sandburg

Prayers of Steel

Lay me on an anvil, Î God.
Beat me and hammer me into a crowbar.
Let me pry loose old walls.
Let me lift and loosen old foundations.
Lay me on an anvil, Î God.

Beat me and hammer me into a steel spike 
Drive me into the girders that hold a skyscraper together
Take red-hot rivets and fasten me into the central girders 
Let me be the great nail holding a skyscraper 
                  through blue nights into white stars.

1. Follies
2. Prayers after World War
3. A Father to His Son
4. Ready to Kill
5. Wars

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