In James Weldon Johnson’s “The Word of an Engineer,” the speaker celebrates human-made marvels—a steel ship and a speeding train—and the engineers whose calculations make them possible. The ship is described as almost invincible, able to face storms and darkness, while the train hurtles over bridges and through tunnels as if on an iron thread spun from a draftsman’s mind. The speaker feels no fear in dangerous situations because he has complete confidence in the engineer’s word.
The mood is one of awe and bold assurance, but there is a sharp edge at the end. By saying people have more faith in engineers than in God, Johnson both admires modern achievement and hints at how thoroughly technology has replaced older sources of trust.