Poetry · Chapter
Lincoln Monument explained
The poem reflects on the Lincoln Monument in Washington, portraying Abraham Lincoln as a solitary, timeless figure sitting in marble and moonlight.
What happens
The poem reflects on the Lincoln Monument in Washington, portraying Abraham Lincoln as a solitary, timeless figure sitting in marble and moonlight. Despite his stillness, his voice echoes eternally against the walls of time, symbolizing enduring moral authority and the fight for justice.
Themes in this chapter
Racial Identity and Oppression
Lincoln's monument symbolizes the ongoing struggle for racial equality, with his 'voice forever' representing the enduring call for justice against oppression.
Death and Mortality
Lincoln is depicted as 'quiet for ten thousand centuries' and 'a million, million centuries,' emphasizing his death and the timelessness of his legacy.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The speaker invites the reader to observe Lincoln's monument, reflecting on his solitude and eternal voice.
Key passages
“Let’s go see old Abe Sitting in the marble and the moonlight, Sitting lonely in the marble and the moonlight, Quiet for ten thousand centuries, old Abe.”
Let us visit the statue of Abraham Lincoln, seated in marble under the moonlight, appearing solitary and silent for an immense span of time.
The speaker emphasizes Lincoln's isolation and the monumental scale of his historical presence.
“Quiet—and yet a voice forever Against the timeless walls of time, Old Abe.”
Though silent, Lincoln's voice persists eternally, echoing against the unchanging barriers of history.
This paradox highlights Lincoln's enduring moral influence beyond his physical stillness.