The Leaden-Eyed

The Leaden-Eyed

Vachel Lindsay

Let not the young souls be smothered out before

They do quaint deeds and fully flaunt their pride.

It is the world's one great crime its babes grow dull,

Its poor are ox-like, limp and leaden-eyed.

Not that they starve, but starve so dreamlessly;

Not that they sow, but that they seldom reap;

Not that they serve, but have no gods to serve;

Not that they die, but that they die like sheep.

-from The Congo

Vachel Lindsay is one of my favorite poets. Much of his work is intended to be sung or chanted, similar to the manner in which such poems were performed in ancient Greece. Lindsay hailed from Springfield, Illinois & was a particularly talented performing artist in the Midwest. He went on to become one of the most famous poets in the United States, and was mentor to several other famed writers, the genius that was Langston Hughes being particularly noteworthy. He is no longer so well known, and I find that to be a terrible shame. You'll definitely be seeing more of his work here in the future, though! :)

((If you have any further questions, would like to make a suggestion for a future poem/topic of discussion, or would like an analysis of this poem to be done, please inform me by leaving a comment below. I will address any and all comments in the order they are received, as quickly as I can.))