Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[learner12]

Hello, teachers!!

When Abraham Lincoln was shoveled into the tombs, he forgot the copperheads and the assassin in the dust, in the cool tombs.
---Carl Sandburg

I found the sentence in the web, but I can't understand the true meaning of it. I was able to understand the sentence literally, but I was not able to understand what the author wanted to say.

thank you in advance.

[pugachevV]

It's a poem about death and what (if anything) is remembered after it.

If you are confused by the term "Copperheads":-
According to Wikipedia:
The Copperheads were a vocal group of Democrats in the Northern United States who opposed the American Civil War, wanting an immediate peace settlement with the Confederates.
Republicans started calling them "copperheads", likening them to the poisonous snake. The Peace Democrats accepted the label, but for them the copper "head" was the likeness of Liberty, which they cut from copper pennies and proudly wore as badges.

And, of course, Lincoln was assassinated.

[learner12]

Dear pugachevV:

Thank you so much for your insight.

Yes, I didn't understand the word "copperheads."

Great teacher!!

Take care and have a great day!!