Songs of the Army of the Night

"Songs of the Army of the Night" by Francis Adams is a powerful collection of poems that shines a spotlight on the difficult lives and unfair treatment of workers during the mid-1800s. The words express strong feelings about the problems they faced, like unfair labor practices, oppression, and the huge gap between the rich and the poor. The poems speak out against capitalism and those who controlled the land, highlighting the suffering of those who had no voice, with the intention of making people more aware of the injustices happening around them encouraging a desire to change society for the better. The collection starts with an introduction where the author makes it clear these pieces are driven by both a sense of hopelessness and a desire for a more promising future. The first poem itself immediately creates an image of the "Army of the Night," representing the joining together of those who are oppressed, demanding the reader's attention to the serious and immediate need for the working class to stand up against the wealthy.