Chicago Poems by Carl Sandburg
"Chicago Poems" is the debut poetry collection by Carl Sandburg, consisting of nearly 150 poems that capture the essence of the people and the landscape of the Midwest, particularly Chicago. Through a blend of colloquial language and vivid imagery, Sandburg articulates the experiences of the laboring masses who migrated to the city, celebrating their energy and resilience in the face of hardship. The opening poem, "Chicago," presents a dual portrayal of the city, acknowledging both its harsh realities—such as poverty and crime—and the vibrant life that emerges from its industrious spirit.
Sandburg's work emphasizes social idealism and the collective strength of the populace, often contrasting the struggles of the working class with the indifference of the upper classes. Themes in "Chicago Poems" include the inevitability of change, the limitations of words, and the universal experience of mortality. With a deep empathy for the masses, Sandburg illustrates how individual lives are intertwined with broader social narratives, making him a voice for the American experience. His authentic expression and humanitarian perspective have cemented his reputation as a significant figure in American poetry.
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Subject Terms
Chicago Poems by Carl Sandburg
First published: 1916
The Work
Chicago Poems, Carl Sandburg’s first published book of poetry, is a collection of nearly 150 poems. In it, Sandburg revitalized the subject matter and the form of poetry. His poetry is of the people and cities of the Midwest. The people of his cities, the laboring masses who migrated there in search of a better life, speak in the often slangy, colloquial words of the laboring classes. His nature images are taken from the wide rolling prairies.
Sandburg first attacks then praises the people about whom he writes. In “Chicago,” the opening poem, Sandburg is explaining that the city has a terrible side to it, with its prostitutes and its killers who are set free; it is a ruthless city that allows women and children to starve. Chicago also is a metropolis that affirms life by industriousness and joy in the face of destiny. It is a city that is made up of people who may not be well educated or have fine manners, but who exhibit energy and pride, and these, according to Sandburg, are the necessary foundations of a healthy society.
Social idealism is apparent on almost every page of Chicago Poems. An especially telling example is the poem “I Am the People, the Mob.” In it, Sandburg defines the masses as laborers and as witnesses to history. From the very beginning of the book, Sandburg focuses upon the concept of the ultimate power of the people, diminishing the position of the well-to-do in order to accentuate his compassion for the laboring classes. No poem in the book exhibits any sympathy for the problems of the upper or middle classes. Other themes in Chicago Poems include the limitations of the written word, the certainty of change, and death as a final silence. For example, the people as a force might move on through the centuries, but as individuals they must undergo the same fate as their politicians and leaders. The theme of this burden of time permeates the entire book. It is especially apparent in “Losses,” in which a sweetheart, a child, and a strumming banjo all become a part of that inevitable river of time. Only shadows will be left.
Chicago Poems exemplifies Sandburg’s humanitarianism, his great empathy for and defense of the masses. It is his presentation of the profoundly sincere American: He demonstrates not only that people who are but a part of the masses have problems, but that within that mob of people each individual has his or her own set of problems, as well as pleasures and ecstasies. As a result of this, Sandburg is given the distinction of being the American poet who can speak clearly in an authentic voice for the American people.
Bibliography
Allen, Gay Wilson. Carl Sandburg. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1972. Brief but useful introduction to Sandburg’s poetry, with specific references to Chicago Poems.
Callahan, North. Carl Sandburg: His Life and Works. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1987. Overview of Sandburg’s career, with sensitive readings of his poems. Chapters 5, 6, and 7 focus on Sandburg’s Chicago experience and the poetry he produced during that period.
Callahan, North. Carl Sandburg: Lincoln of Our Literature. New York: New York University Press, 1970. A critical biography of Sandburg that includes comment on his Chicago years.
Crowder, Richard. Carl Sandburg. New York: Twayne, 1964. One of the best general discussions of Sandburg’s life and career. Relates how Harriet Monroe arranged for the publication of “Chicago” and other poems in Poetry: A Magazine of Verse in March, 1914, and the literary establishment’s negative reaction to this unconventional poetry. Useful chronology of Sandburg’s life; selected bibliography.
Niven, Penelope. Carl Sandburg: A Biography. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1991. A first-rate critical biography of Sandburg that includes a section on “The Chicago Years” and the poet’s creative work during that period. Perhaps the best single work to date on Sandburg and his art.