Poems: The New Colossus

Description

Unlike ancient colossal monuments that celebrated military might, Lazarus reimagines the Statue of Liberty as a maternal figure of mercy and hope. Her sonnet transforms what could have been a simple harbor sentinel into the very spirit of American promise, extending a luminous welcome to those fleeing persecution and poverty. Through vivid contrasts between the old world's despair and America's bright promise, Lazarus creates an enduring portrait of immigration's profound humanity. The poem reaches its crescendo as Liberty herself speaks, claiming her role not as a conqueror but as a bearer of hope, whose torch illuminates a golden door for the world's "huddled masses yearning to breathe free." Lazarus's words have transcended their role as a simple inscription to become America's most eloquent statement of its immigrant identity.