General William Booth Enters into Heaven, and Other Poems

"General William Booth Enters into Heaven, and Other Poems" by Vachel Lindsay is a compilation of poems that expresses the author's perspective on society and politics during the start of the 1900s. The overarching themes in this book include the connection between faith and fairness, using a lively, almost musical style, bringing back the tradition of spoken poetry. Lindsay's poems give opinions on society and argue for compassion, with famous figures from history and literature acting as a lens for these ideas. The namesake poem illustrates the leader of the Salvation Army reaching heaven with the poor and forgotten, cheering for forgiveness and optimism even when things are tough. Throughout the book, Lindsay connects his observations on city life, thoughts on love, and requests for social change, as shown in poems about addiction and politics. Lindsay shows sympathy for humanity, asking for people to change themselves for the better and help each other through truth and beauty, asking readers into a world where poetry can change the world.