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1. Describe Goya's paintings as described by the author in Poem 1.

In the first poem, Goya's scenes represent suffering humanity as if the people in the paintings still exist, and they do although they are changed. Modern man still suffers as we are stranded across the freeways of America.

2. What is the second poem of Chapter 1 about? What imagery is used?

The second poem expresses surprise at the similarities between the original Greek and the modern American democracies. The poet uses images of eagles, elephants in bathtubs, and patriotic maidens wearing paper poppies. It is a surreal poem which discusses freedom and Ferlinghetti's criticism of America.

3. Poem 3 of Chapter One describes other visions of America. What are they?

The third poem argues that the poet's eye sees the surface of the world, complete with empty Ellis Islands, Cinerama holy days, materialism and the immigrant's dream come "too true." In this poem the author also compares America to ancient civilizations, namely Rome.

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