Skip to main content
Poetry Foundation Homepage
Poetry magazine
June 2026Subscribe
Subscribe
June 2026Poetry May2026 cover RGB
Poetry Foundation Homepage
Poetry Foundation Homepage
Poetry Foundation
Poetry magazine
June 2026Subscribe
Subscribe
June 2026Poetry May2026 cover RGB
Poetry Foundation

The Hammer

By Carl Sandburg
I have seen
The old gods go
And the new gods come.

Day by day
And year by year
The idols fall
And the idols rise.

Today
I worship the hammer.


Source: Poetry (March 1914)
p1
This Poem Appears In
An edited Poetry Magazine by Harriet Moore. The issue is from March of 1914.
Read Issue
Subscribe to Poetry
An edited Poetry Magazine by Harriet Moore. The issue is from March of 1914.
This Poem Appears In
View Issue
Poem categories
Religion
Living
Time & Brevity
Arts & Sciences
Philosophy
Meters
Free Verse
Techniques
Assonance
Poet categories
1901-1940
Modernist
North America
U.S., Midwestern
  • Poems & Poets
    • Collections
    • Poem Guides
    • Poem of the Day
    • Poems
    • All Poems
    • Poets
    • All Poets
  • Topics & Themes
    • Adults
    • Children
    • Education
    • Educators
    • Glossary of Poetic Terms
    • Teens
  • Features
    • About the Magazine
    • Advertise with Poetry

    • Articles
    • Books
    • Podcasts
    • Poetry Magazine

    • Poetry Magazine Archive

    • Submit to Poetry

    • Subscriptions
    • Video
  • Grants & Programs
    • Awards
    • Events
    • All Past Events
    • Past Exhibitions
    • Grants
    • Library
    • Partnerships
    • Programs
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Give
    • Jobs
    • News
    • Our Team
    • Press Releases
    • Reports & Financials
    • Trustees
    • Visit
Poetry Foundation
FacebookInstagram
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Poetry Mobile App
  • 61 West Superior Street,
    Chicago, IL 60654
  • © 2026 Poetry Foundation
See a problem on this page?