Children

Children symbolize the future. In the poem, Williams calls on his audience to uphold American values in their actions in order to ensure a prosperous society for their children to grow up in, even if they do not get to see that future themselves. In this way, children also come to symbolize hope and possibility, as they inspire action for a time that is for many uncertain.

The Old Songs

The "old songs" to which Williams alludes symbolize American history (4). Williams asserts that he and his audience have "memorized America," arguing that they are familiar with the country's past through their education and through various ceremonial practices like singing songs (the National Anthem, which tells the story of America's triumph in the Revolutionary War, could be the specific song alluded to here). However, the poem also argues that this familiarity with American history is not enough...