Original Poem：
Airport bus from JFK
cruising through Queens
passing huge endless cemetery
by Long Island’s old expressway
(once a dirt path for wheelless Indians)
myriad small tombstones tilted up
gesturing statues on parapets
stone arms or wings upraised
lost among illegible inscriptions
And the setting yellow sun
painting all of them
on one side only
with an ochre brush
Rows and rows and rows and rows
of small stone slabs
tilted toward the sun forever
While on the far horizon
Mannahatta’s great stone slabs
skyscraper tombs and parapets
casting their own long black shadows
over all these long-haired graves
the final restless places
of old-country potato farmers
dustbin pawnbrokers
dead dagos and Dublin bouncers
tinsmiths and blacksmiths and roofers
house painters and house carpenters
cabinet makers and cigar makers
garment workers and streetcar motormen
railroad switchmen and signal salesmen
swabbers and sweepers and swampers
steam-fitters and key-punch operators
ward heelers and labor organizers
railroad dicks and smalltime mafiosi
shopkeepers and saloon keepers and doormen
icemen and middlemen and conmen
housekeepers and housewives and dowagers
French housemaids and Swedish cooks
Brooklyn barmaids and Bronxville butlers
opera singers and gandy dancers
pitchers and catchers
in the days of ragtime baseball
poolroom hustlers and fight promoters
Catholic sisters of charity
parish priests and Irish cops
Viennese doctors of delirium
now all abandoned in eternity
parcels in a dead-letter office
inscrutable addresses on them
beyond further deliverance
in an America wheeling past them
and disappearing oblivious
into East River’s echoing tunnels
down the great American drain
Analysis and Interpretation of the Poem
This poem vividly captures a journey on an airport bus from JFK Airport through Queens, New York, passing by a vast cemetery. The poet uses powerful imagery to describe the endless rows of tombstones, some tilted and weathered, with statues and stone arms raised, all bathed in the warm ochre light of the setting sun. The cemetery symbolizes a resting place for many immigrants and working-class individuals who once lived in the city, their final resting places quietly overshadowed by the towering skyscrapers of Manhattan, referred to here as "Mannahatta’s great stone slabs."
The poem contrasts the ancient and humble graves of potato farmers, laborers, and various tradespeople with the modern urban landscape of skyscrapers, emphasizing the passage of time and the forgotten lives beneath the city's grandeur. The poem also reflects on the diverse ethnic backgrounds of the people buried there, mentioning Irish, Italian ("dagos"), French, Swedish, and Viennese individuals, highlighting the multicultural fabric of New York’s past.
The final stanzas evoke a sense of loss and oblivion, portraying these graves as "parcels in a dead-letter office," with "inscrutable addresses," suggesting that these lives are now beyond reach or memory, as the city and America move forward, indifferent to the past.
Background and Author Information
The poem likely draws inspiration from the poet’s personal observations of New York City’s landscape and history. The reference to "Mannahatta" is a nod to the original Lenape name for Manhattan, grounding the poem in a deep historical context. The poet’s detailed listing of occupations and ethnic groups reflects a keen awareness of the immigrant experience and working-class struggles in early to mid-20th century America.
While the specific author is not named here, the style and themes resonate with poets who explore urban life, immigration, and social history, such as Walt Whitman or more modern poets influenced by the immigrant experience in New York City.
Reflection and Personal Response
Reading this poem invites reflection on the layers of history beneath modern cities and the lives of ordinary people who built and sustained them. It evokes a bittersweet feeling — the beauty of the setting sun illuminating the graves contrasts with the anonymity and fading memory of those buried. The poem encourages us to remember and honor the diverse stories and contributions of past generations, even as the city rushes forward.
Educational Value and Learning Points
Students and children can learn several important lessons from this poem:
- Historical Awareness: The poem provides insight into the immigrant and working-class history of New York City, helping students understand the social fabric of urban America.
- Cultural Diversity: It highlights the multicultural nature of the city’s past inhabitants, promoting appreciation for different ethnic backgrounds.
- Imagery and Symbolism: The poem is an excellent example of how imagery (e.g., the ochre sunlight, tilted tombstones) and symbolism (e.g., skyscrapers as "stone slabs") can convey deeper meanings.
- Reflection on Mortality: It gently introduces themes of life, death, and memory, encouraging thoughtful discussion about how societies remember their past.
- Vocabulary Building: Words like "parapets," "ochre," "inscriptions," and "delirium" can expand students' vocabulary.
Practical Applications in Learning and Life
- Creative Writing: Students can use this poem as a model to write their own descriptive poems about places meaningful to them.
- History Lessons: Teachers can use the poem to discuss immigration, labor history, and urban development.
- Art and Visualization: The vivid imagery can inspire art projects focused on light, shadow, and memory.
- Empathy and Social Studies: Understanding the lives of past workers and immigrants fosters empathy and social awareness.
- Critical Thinking: Analyzing the poem’s symbolism and themes encourages deeper literary analysis skills.
Reading Comprehension Questions
- What is the setting of the poem?
- How does the poet describe the cemetery and the tombstones?
- What does the poem suggest about the relationship between the cemetery and the city skyline?
- Name three types of people mentioned who are buried in the cemetery.
- What does the phrase "parcels in a dead-letter office" symbolize?
- How does the poem reflect on the theme of memory and oblivion?
- Why do you think the poet mentions the "setting yellow sun" painting the tombstones?
- What emotions does the poem evoke about the lives of the people buried there?
- How does the poem highlight the diversity of the people in New York City?
- What lessons can we learn from this poem about history and community?
Answer Key
- The setting is an airport bus traveling from JFK through Queens, passing by a large cemetery near Long Island’s old expressway.
- The cemetery is described as huge and endless, with many small, tilted tombstones and statues, some with raised arms or wings, many inscriptions illegible.
- The poem contrasts the humble graves with the towering skyscrapers of Manhattan, which cast long shadows over the cemetery, symbolizing the passage of time and changing cityscape.
- Potato farmers, pawnbrokers, and garment workers are among those mentioned.
- It symbolizes that the graves and the people buried there are forgotten or unreachable, like undeliverable mail.
- The poem suggests that the memories of these people are fading as the city moves on, highlighting themes of loss and oblivion.
- The setting sun symbolizes the passage of time and casts a warm, golden light that illuminates the graves, emphasizing their presence and dignity.
- The poem evokes feelings of respect, melancholy, and reflection on the forgotten lives of ordinary people.
- By listing various ethnic groups and occupations, the poem shows the multicultural and working-class nature of New York’s population.
- We learn to appreciate the contributions of past generations, recognize cultural diversity, and reflect on how society remembers its history.
