Author: Madison Julius Cawein

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    The Woolworth Building


    Enormously it lifts
    Its tower against the splendor of the west;
    Like some wild dream that drifts
    Before the mind, and at the will's behest,
    Enchantment-based, gigantic steel and stone,
    Is given permanence;
    A concrete fact,
    Complete, alone,
    Glorious, immense,
    Such as no nation here on Earth has known:
    Epitomizing all
    That is American, that stands for youth,
    And strength and truth;
    That's individual,
    And beautiful and free,
    Resistless srength and tireless energy.
    Even as a cataract,
    Its superb fact
    Suggests vast forces Nature builds with Joy,
    And Power and Thought,
    She to her aid has brought
    For eons past, will bring for eons yet to be,
    Shaping the world to her desire: the three
    Her counsellors constantly,
    Her architects, through whom her dreams come true,
    Her workmen, bringing forth,
    With toil that shall not cease,
    Mountains and plains and seas,
    That make the Earth
    The glory that it is:
    And, one with these,
    Such works of man as this,
    This building, towering into the blue,
    A beacon, round which like an ocean wide,
    Circles and flows the restless human tide.

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Type of Poem: Lyric Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem, a tribute to the Woolworth Building, uses vivid imagery and grandiose language to reflect the awe-inspiring nature of the iconic structure. The building is characterized as an incubus of the American spirit, a symbol of youth, strength, truth, individuality, beauty, and freedom. These attributes are emphasized through the poem's lofty tone, which is sustained throughout, creating an atmosphere of reverence and admiration.

The structure of the poem underscores its themes. The initial lines describe the building's towering height and its prominence against the western sky. The poem then moves to establish the building as a concrete reality, a "superb fact" that stands alone and embodies the nation's values. The poet uses metaphorical language, comparing the building to a cataract, a powerful and unstoppable natural force, which further highlights the building's majesty and potency. The concluding lines suggest that the Woolworth Building is a beacon for humanity, drawing people to it like an ocean tide, an image that reinforces the building's transcendent and magnetic qualities. This poem, thus, not only celebrates a renowned architectural achievement but also identifies it as a powerful symbol of American identity and potential.