In honor of the 4th of July, I'd like to discuss "The New Colossus" sonnet which was written by Emma Lazarus, an American poet. The words of the poem are inscribed on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. The words reflect on how the Statue of Liberty welcomes immigrants from all over the world. Emma Lazarus's poems and essays appeared in many popular magazines of her time, although she is best remembered for this particular sonnet. In much of her work she wrote about Jewish themes.
The New Colossus, by Emma Lazarus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Through the poem she is trying to show how the United States, as a collective, is welcoming in, with open arms, anyone who is yearning for a change. Anyone who is looking to breathe in the fresh air of freedom, liberty and democracy.
In her own time, many saw Emma as a powerful women, who was willing to do what she could for those less fortunate. Unfortunately, except for this particular poem, most of her work is now largely unread. This is partly due to the fact that her work made her stand out as an outsider, rather than one of the people. The irony of her work is that she tried to have everyone feel welcome, but she still celebrated and clung to her separateness. She was a Jewish woman, trying to live in a largely Christian, and masculine, world. In many ways she didn't feel comfortable wherever she called home.
The title of this poem refers to the Colossus of Rhodes which is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The Colossus is a bronze statue that represents the sun god Helios. Lazarus makes clear that our statue, the Statue of Liberty, is not like that one. Instead, our statue is inclusive, and invites everyone in with welcoming arms.
In the second part of the poem, the statue talks to us. It lets us know that we are welcome. It doesn't care who we are, or where we called home before. The statue calls out to people from all over the world. The poem gives that statue a welcoming voice. The statue, with its welcoming stance and voice, then becomes a powerful symbol of hope and salvation for those who feel like they might have none.
As a symbol of inclusiveness, warmth, caring and hope you might use some of the questions below to look at how the poem, statue, and the qualities that they represent, shape your life today.
- How do you make room for others in your life?
- How do you keep the flames of 'hope' alive and burning in your life?
- What are you yearning to 'breathe free' from?
- How are you connected with your passion and what you yearn for?
- Where do you feel shut out?
- Where do you feel like an outsider?
- Where do you feel welcome?
- Can you remember important people who made you feel included and welcome?
- How have you made others feel included and welcome?
- How might you improve your relationships by being more inclusive?
- Where might you be a powerful guide and mentor for others?
- How might you develop a personal practice around hope or inclusiveness?
- How might your work with your Core Numbers to develop compassion and tolerance?
Tools & Resources:
National Endowment for the Humanities -
Discussion pages about the Statue of Liberty
