Fearing's poems generally are longer than what I like to place into a post, so instead I'll keep it to excerpts, trying to focus upon those which show the duality in Fearing's portryals, how he can be both sympathetic and critical at the same time, as well as how his poetry is as relevant as it ever was, possibly even more so.

....City, city, city
eye without vision, light without warmth, voice without
........mind, pulse without flesh
mirror and gateway, mirage, cloud against the sun
do you remember that, that year, that season, that day,
........that hour, that name, that face
do you remember
....Only the day, fulfilled, as it burns in the million
........windows of the west
only the promise of the day, returning, as it flames on
....the roofs and spires and steeples of the east.

--from 'Manhattan'

Lady, the demand is for a dream that lives and grows
........and does not fade when the midnight theater
........special pulls out on track 15;
....cracker, the demand is for a dream that stands and
........quickens and does not crumble when a
........General Motors dividend is passed;
....lady, the demand is for a dream that lives and grows
........and does not die when the national guardsmen
........fix those cold, bright bayonets;
....cracker, the demand is for a dream that stays, grows
........real, withstands the benign, afternoon vision
........of the clublady, survives the cracker's evening
........fantasy of honor, and profit, and grace.

--from '$2.50'

....1000, 2000, 3000, 4000
is that just right to match the feeling that you want
5000, 6000
is that just right
7000, 8000
is that what you want to match the feeling that you have
9000, 10,000
would you like to tune in upon your very own life, gone
........somewhere far away.

--from 'Radio Blues'

But wondering, too, what it really was I at one time felt
........so deeply for,
The actual voice, or this muted thunder? These giant
........shadows, or the naked face?
Or something within the voice and behind the face?--

And wondering whether, now, I would have the courage
........to reply, in fact,
Or any longer know the words, or even find the voice.

--from 'Mrs. Fanchier at the Movies'