Poems Carl Sandburg Wrote

Journalist/critic H.L. Mencken called poet Carl Sandburg "an American in every pulse-beat". It's probably safe to say that if this is true, then poems Carl Sandburg are the beats of that pulse.

"Hope Is A Tattered Flag" expresses the dreaminess of Americans and their staunch attitude of always having a dream, and holding out until they get it. It expresses in very concrete terms, why hope is so important.

It uses ordinary language to describe hope, yet makes hope concrete in a way that ordinary language usually does not! The poem is beautiful in a way that most of us could never use language - yet in a way that we can all understand.

You don't need any special class in poetry, or specialized literary training, to enjoy the poetry. Most importantly, you don't have to be well-educated to be inspired and uplifted by it.

Sandburg is quoted as having said, "I am an idealist. I believe in everything - I am only looking for proofs." This expresses his faith in the power of belief - which is what hope is based on. And "Hope Is A Tattered Flag" expresses the nature of hope - usually an abstract and hard to define word - in a clear way that any of us can understand.

The poem does an expert job of expressing its meaning - proof positive that Sandburg had his mental game together. But ultimately, poems Carl Sandburg wrote are designed to effect our emotions most strongly. Consider this poem about a street car in Chicago:

HALSTED STREET CAR
COME you, cartoonists,
Hang on a strap with me here
At seven o'clock in the morning
On a Halsted street car.
Take your pencils
And draw these faces.
Try with your pencils for these crooked faces,
That pig-sticker in one corner--his mouth--
That overall factory girl--her loose cheeks.
Find for your pencils
A way to mark your memory
Of tired empty faces.
After their night's sleep,
In the moist dawn
And cool daybreak,
Faces
Tired of wishes,
Empty of dreams.

(This poem is in the public domain - you're free to reprint it but be sure and list him as the author. Not all of his poems are public domain; check, if you want to reprint others!)

Now of course these aren't the only two poems Carl Sandburg wrote. But by now you should have some idea what he wrote, and why any of us can enjoy them. I hope you find more to enjoy!

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