There's a poster in my room above my desk with a poem by Carl Sandburg written beneath an old army helmet. The helmet is partially buried in the ground, with a flower growing out of a rusted hole.
The poster was given to me by my English teacher, Mrs. Meadows, after my junior year of high school. Titled "Grass," it tells the story of history -- of how, given enough time, people forget.
"Pile the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo.
Shovel them under and let me work -
I am the grass; I cover all."
A popular understanding of this poem is that it urges the importance of studying history. That, without the knowledge of the past, monumental events become lost in the background or, worse yet, forgotten completely. As the oft-misquoted adage goes, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
"And pile them high at Gettysburg
And pile them high at Ypres and Verdun.
Shovel them under and let me work."
I think it comes from the interpretation of the word "work." A professor once told his class that work was a negative verb. At least, it used to be. In the ages of Alexander the Great and Napoleon and Cleopatra, work was for peasants. It was something the strong, the enlightened, the divinely ordained avoided because through fate or fortune or God, they were destined to spend their time and efforts on more pertinent matters of the mind.
Biblically speaking, work is punishment for eating the apple. It's supposed to be negative. It's supposed to be undesirable. Yet, now it isn't.
"Two years, ten years, and passengers ask the conductor:
What place is this?
Where are we now?"
This same professor told his class that when man finally separated his government from his religion, work became good. Work became opportunity. And this is where I part ways with the particular critique of Sandburg's poem.
The study of history is important. I agree, the future is constructed from the lessons learned by our fathers and mothers, but I also believe in the age-old maxim that time heals all wounds. I believe that, in the instance of this poem, the grass is the protagonist.
Perspective is an exercise in time, and since God hates us all, it's a luxury most often afforded when it's time to move on. Still, in mid-March, somewhere between Orlando and the Georgia border but just before the toll booth, the last four years finally sank in.
If I'm honest, I've probably grown as a person more in the last year than in the previous three. It has much and more to do with the individuals I've surrounded myself with on a daily basis: The folks at The Crimson White, both past and present; the group I affectionately refer to as my business-school crowd, who help remind me there are people outside the Fourth Estate; even those wonderful, beautiful people I met at Egan's that one Friday night who showed me what it truly means to love life.
I've been thinking about this column from the moment I submitted my first back in October of 2010. Then, and even as recently as a few months ago, I envisioned a giant, 800-word middle finger to the system as my final parting gift.
Truth be told, though, that'd be selfish, because despite everything that has happened since that first piece, this has been and always will be a conversation.
Someone somewhere once decided it was a good idea to give me this space each week to spout nonsense about a whole lot that never really mattered. But each day I pounded the keyboard it had everything to do with reasons yet explained about why you all continued to turn to page four on Monday morning.
On the occasions I received a compliment regarding my column, I always replied with, "Thanks, I really appreciate you saying that." What I always meant was, "Thanks, I really appreciate you taking the time to read it at all."
So from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you, Roll Tide and go to hell, Auburn.
"I am the grass.
Let me work."
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.