Pioneers! O Pioneers!

Come my tan-faced children,
Follow well in order, get your weapons ready,
Have you your pistols? have you your sharp-edged axes?
Pioneers! O pioneers!
For we cannot tarry here,
We must march my darlings, we must bear the brunt of danger,
We the youthful sinewy races, all the rest on us depend,
Pioneers! O pioneers!

O you youths, Western youths,
So impatient, full of action, full of manly pride and friendship,
Plain I see you Western youths, see you tramping with the foremost,
Pioneers! O pioneers!

Have the elder races halted?
Do they droop and end their lesson, wearied over there beyond the seas?
We take up the task eternal, and the burden and the lesson,
Pioneers! O pioneers!

All the past we leave behind,
We debouch upon a newer mightier world, varied world,
Fresh and strong the world we seize, world of labor and the march,
Pioneers! O pioneers!


"Pioneers! O Pioneers"
Walt Whitman

This poem talks about the American pioneers of the 19th century and the Manifest Destiny of the young American nation. They were the ones who explored an unknown land full of opportunites as well as dangers. That was then, 200 years ago. Now there are no unknown lands to discover, no new rivers to name. Where did that impetus of challenging everything go? However, right now in the 21st century this poem still has its meaning. We do not longer belong to young nations, but we impersonate the youth and all that that implies. As brave pioneers looked for new, virgin lands we must do the same. We must search for a new system with less flaws than the current one. It is our duty, the youth's duty, to stand up against the injustices that are shaping our world. Shall we let the citizens be crushed by inhuman corporations and selfish politicians? Shall we leave the people to be suffocated by an unbearable status quo? "We must march my darlings, we must bear the brunt of danger." If we do not do it, who will?

If you wish to listen/read the whole poem check out this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88j-MHy32gw