The first time I read this poem I could only interpret vaguely that it was about the beginning of the industrial world. Then I read it again, focusing more on its specific aspects, and suddenly I was drawn in. I definitely had to try harder with this one, and because of that I was much more satisfied after reading. The poem is great because with every re-read, you'll find something new. My favorite part is the passage from "Soon the suicides will show themselves" to "our plans to fire" because--in my opinion--it disturbingly reminds us that despite our sympathy toward the Earth we are still unknowingly destroying it as population grows and ignorance remains.
The first time I read this poem I could only interpret vaguely that it was about the beginning of the industrial world. Then I read it again, focusing more on its specific aspects, and suddenly I was drawn in. I definitely had to try harder with this one, and because of that I was much more satisfied after reading. The poem is great because with every re-read, you'll find something new. My favorite part is the passage from "Soon the suicides will show themselves" to "our plans to fire" because--in my opinion--it disturbingly reminds us that despite our sympathy toward the Earth we are still unknowingly destroying it as population grows and ignorance remains.