A Note on Carl Sandburg’s Poem “Chicago”

Chicago city

                                                                                                             

City of Steel industries

                                                                  

                                              

Carl Sandburg with his wife, Lilian Steichen

 This poem is an example of American modernist literature written in typical American style and was published along with other poems in the March 1914 edition of the magazine “Poetry”. In 1916 Sandburg republished it in his collection,” Chicago Poems”. Sandburg was influenced by the language of the Bible and the free verse of Walt Whitman. Sandburg adopted the cadence of everyday talk as a model for his poems. He favored free verse with loose rhythm as a good way to convey his thoughts and feelings. H.L. Mencken called Sandburg’s poems as “simple, eloquent and extraordinarily moving.” He used long and short lines and lists. The use of catalogue gives the poem a unique rhythm. Repetition of phrases like “laughing” at the beginning of a sentence is called anaphora.

The first stanza defines the poet’s impressions about Chicago where he worked as an editor for the “Chicago daily news.” It is the industrial and commercial hub of America’s midwestern region. It is the place where meat industry thrives, where various mechanical tools are manufactured and where wheat bags are stored and transported to east and western zones. The poet personifies Chicago as a rough, burly, energetic young man with broad shoulders. The poet aptly describes the city as a busy industrial city contributing much to the progress of the nation.

 In the next section the poet deals with the flaws and vices pointed out by others who found fault with Chicago having many vices like prostitution, sexual abuse, murderers who go unpunished, starving people and pangs of poverty. Though the poet acknowledges the flaws of the city, he defends the unique admirable qualities of his city. This shows his close intimacy and love he has for Chicago. In a lengthy verse paragraph, he portrays the vibrant image of a sturdy, industrious city ‘fierce as a dog with tongue lapping for action”, “cunning as a savage pitted against wilderness”. The city is like a strong fighter who has never lost a battle. The city is like a bareheaded worker” shoveling, wrecking, planning, building, breaking and rebuilding”. The poet gives a long catalogue of verbs to describe the dynamic nature of the citizens. The image of a young laborer laughing with white teeth ‘under the smoke, dust all over his mouth” shows the bold, defiant nature of the city which never concedes defeat and is ready to fight against all odds.

Chicago reflects the temperament and mood of her inhabitants who mostly belong to middle class and lower-class cadres working in factories and business firms. In the last section the poet repeats the vibrant energetic, bold image of Chicago as a “laughing, half-naked, sweating, brawling youth” who is proud of his unique identity as “a Hog Butcher, Tool Maker, Stacker of wheat and Player with railroad and Freight handler” working for the progress of the nation. The poem starts with capitals to emphasize the vital role of the city. This poem celebrates the vitality and strength of the city while acknowledging its flaws and challenges. He used vivid and unconventional imagery to portray the city and its people. He ultimately asserts that Chicago is a place of great importance and pride.

The poet used free verse but used many figurative devices like simile, metaphor and personification. The use of parallel structures, repetition of key phrases and words with American speech rhythm adds a sense of creative touch. The city is “fierce as a dog” and “cunning as a savage”. The poet calls the city “a young man” as it was founded only 1833 unlike other ancient cities. He uses personification characterizing the city as a living thing. The overall mood of the poem is one of praise and exuberance. Though it is brutal, cruel or wicked, the poet uses many phrases to show its important role in industry and trade as “the hog butcher of the world” and “stacker of wheat.” Though it is rough to look at, the poet describes the city as “the city of big shoulders”, “a place of strength, power, progress and potential.” Thus, this poem is a celebration of the poet's beloved city which represents boundless strength, dynamic energy, hard labor, zest and laughter.

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   13th August, 2024                       Somaseshu Gutala