The RetroLounge Daily Poem Thread (Tue 3/27/2007)

[RetroLounge]

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.

Carl Sandburg

****************

RL

If you have a request for a certain Poet, post their name in the thread and I will find a poem by them and post it...

if you want to see some of my poetry, see the blog at:
http://www.myspace.com/retropaul

[swimboy]

1. I love stormy husky brawling half-naked vital cities.

They're not just alabaster. They can't be.

Thanks, RL

swimboy checking in from his own bruised and laughing city
:hug:

[wildhorses]

2. somehow he has captured the essence of our nation

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,

within the confines of a city...

what a timeless masterpiece

thanks for the carl sandburg

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear Retro!

I have always loved this lusty piece!

This is a poem written by Sandburg with conviction and lust...

Perfect!

Just when you might think that poems are from/for the lily-livered, along comes this one!

Thank you.........:hug:

[swimboy]

4. Hello CAP!

Long time, no cross paths!

:hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. My dear swimboy!

How's by you?

I'm good these days.......

Writing poetry!

:hi: