Morgan Wheeler

Mr. A
Poem Analysis
January 25, 2016
General William Booth Enters Heaven by Vachel Lindsay is an American poem written in
1920. Vachel Lindsay was most famous for the delivery of his poetry which included instruments
and stage directions to further enhance his point. His hero and inspiration was General William
Booth, the creator of the Salvation Army. This was because he was raised, homeless, on the
streets of Atlanta. The poem has seven stanzas and a Christian undertone. The main idea of the
poem is to convey the importance of giving back to your community and that you will be
rewarded.
The poem repeats the phrase Are you washed in the blood of the lamb? in every stanza
multiple times. The phrase is meant to question if someone is Christian or if they have faith. The
first stanza was directed to have a bass drum bass beaten loudly. The music in the section is in
place to express the influence General William Booth had over the homeless people. The first
stanza was about his pure intentions and the hope his presence brings. He has this influence
because of the Salvation Army. The second stanza was to have banjos playing. This was because
the homeless people were rejoicing because of the help the Salvation Army gave them. It even
includes the phrase Hallelujah which is the highest praise in the Christian faith. Booth wanted
to help people from everywhere he could, and when the Salvation Army was opened he could
watch the people rejoice and feel a sense of accomplishment knowing it was because of
something her did. The third stanza the mood begins to shift, and with the bass drum beating
slower and softer, the stanza expressed that Booth had passed away. The drum being present is to
show that his legacy will live on even though he will not. Vachel Lindsay refers Booth as an
eagle in his assent to heaven.
In the fourth stanza, Jesus returns. He appears in the court house as sweet flute music is
played. Jesus is described to be performing miracles such as healing the blind and lame. The
music was meant to express the feeling Jesus gives people, a calm soothing feeling. In fifth
stanza, the bass drum is brought back louder this time as Jesus calls upon the homeless with
intentions of blessing them as well. He takes the most unlikely people to succeed and gives them
gifts and talents, so they are accepted in society. The significance of the music being this way is
to show how he had similar intentions as General William Booth once had, to help. No longer
shunned by society, they celebrate their blessings and being set free from the pain in their lives in
the sixth stanza. This stanza includes a grand chorus of all instruments to convey the excitement
of all the people. The final stanza is sung with no instruments to completely set the incredible
scene. The stanza says that Booth saw Jesus through the commotion of the party, a huge honor in
the Christian religion, and Jesus crouched to his level to reward him for his hard work and
dedication.
The poem expresses a balance of actions. That what goes around comes back around.
General William Booth did something truly amazing to help other people, and in the end, he was
rewarded with meeting of his savior. General William Booth touched many people ensuring the
potential for success in anyone willing to take the chance to be great.