Pressing Pause for Poetry: Carl Sandburg

"Chicago Bean" by Daniel Godsel, 11"H x 14"W, image via godsel.com

Since I'm in Chicago for the weekend (having an ABSOLUTE BLAST already, but more on that later...), I must share a very famous poem about Chicago by Carl Sandburg. This poem, "Chicago," is from from his book Chicago Poems, and it is a *quite* powerful poem. The Chicago Sandburg describes in this poem is strong, powerful, forceful, dirty. Although this is not the Chicago that I've been experiencing on my trip thus far (I've experienced a much tamer, much more feminine city than Sandburg describes...), I still think it's too great of a poem not to share. And I'm sure that for some, this poem still represents the true heart of this city (and maybe I'll stumble across this version of Chicago at some point on my visit?)...

Press pause and enjoy!

---

CHICAGO

Hog Butcher for the World,
     Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat,
     Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler;
     Stormy, husky, brawling,
     City of the Big Shoulders:

They tell me you are wicked and I believe them, for I
     have seen your painted women under the gas lamps
     luring the farm boys.
And they tell me you are crooked and I answer: Yes, it
     is true I have seen the gunman kill and go free to
     kill again.
And they tell me you are brutal and my reply is: On the
     faces of women and children I have seen the marks
     of wanton hunger.
And having answered so I turn once more to those who
     sneer at this my city, and I give them back the sneer
     and say to them:
Come and show me another city with lifted head singing
     so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning.
Flinging magnetic curses amid the toil of piling job on
     job, here is a tall bold slugger set vivid against the
     little soft cities;

Fierce as a dog with tongue lapping for action, cunning
     as a savage pitted against the wilderness,
          Bareheaded,
          Shoveling,
          Wrecking,
          Planning,
          Building, breaking, rebuilding,
Under the smoke, dust all over his mouth, laughing with
     white teeth,
Under the terrible burden of destiny laughing as a young
     man laughs,
Laughing even as an ignorant fighter laughs who has
     never lost a battle,
Bragging and laughing that under his wrist is the pulse.
     and under his ribs the heart of the people,
               Laughing!
Laughing the stormy, husky, brawling laughter of
     Youth, half-naked, sweating, proud to be Hog
     Butcher, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with
     Railroads and Freight Handler to the Nation.


Do you feel the power? Now I'm off to experience my first full day in this laughing, hulk of a city...

Namaste!
Mary Catherine