Classic Poem

We are the Burden-Bearers,
—We of the bended backs;
We are the shackle-wearers,
—Stumbling the leaden tracks.

We are the mountain-makers—
—Steel-girded mountains that rise
Dwarfing the ancient Cheops,
—Into the city skies.

We are the diggers and delvers
—Under the river roof,
Tunneling granite highways;
—We are the warp and the woof.

We are the slaves of traffic
—Out where the world is new;
We are the scouts of commerce
—Cutting the pathways through.

We are the naked toilers
—Fronting the furnace flames;
We are the miracle-makers,
—Men of the nameless names.
…

We are the stones of the corner;
—We the foundations of life;
We are the Burden-Bearers
—Who carry the brunt of the strife!

We are the Burden-Bearers,
—We of the bended backs;
We are the shackle-wearers,
—Stumbling the leaden tracks.

We are the mountain-makers—
—Steel-girded mountains that rise
Dwarfing the ancient Cheops,
—Into the city skies.

We are the diggers and delvers
—Under the river roof,
Tunneling granite highways;
—We are the warp and the woof.

We are the slaves of traffic
—Out where the world is new;
We are the scouts of commerce
—Cutting the pathways through.

We are the naked toilers
—Fronting the furnace flames;
We are the miracle-makers,
—Men of the nameless names.
…

We are the stones of the corner;
—We the foundations of life;
We are the Burden-Bearers
—Who carry the brunt of the strife!