Carl Sandburg's Free-Verse Poems

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Mr. Sandburg generally wrote free-verse poems allowing him to write what he pleased. Every time he wrote, it was about the beauty and culture of what is America. His writings showed pride and encouraged one to think about the wonders of America and why it is a country full of spirit and greatness. The writings of Carl Sandburg show that he was proud of the people, the resilience, the strength, and the spirit of America. Sandburg was born in Galesburg, Illinois to, Sweetish emigrants, August and Clara Johnson. 1 He was the second born of seven children.2 After encountering many August Johnsons, his father changed the family's name to Sandburg. His father was a blacksmith's helper for the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad. He soon purchased …show more content…

The states he traveled and the varieties of jobs he worked allowed him to see and appreciate what is work and determination in America. Within his writings, he shows his pride in the country and lets that speak for how he feels. An example would be his poem Chicago. One particular line in the poem reads ??building, breaking, and rebuilding?. This talks about how America, or more Chicago, continues to fight after she breaks. No matter how hard America falls or fails, there will always be a better tomorrow for America is pure greatness. Another great work of his that showed his pride in America is: Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years and the War Years. Growing up in Illinois, Sandburg had heard stories from elders, who had known Lincoln and had become fascinated. Another work of his showing his pride in America would be: The American Songbag, a book of American folksongs that he learned while traveling as a hobo. The People, Yes is a collection of American myths, legends, and sayings that Sandburg put together to show his admiration for his country. Each one of Sandburg?s writings have something connected to the spirit of America. His poem Working Girls speaks about the everyday life of a young girl having to get up early in the morning to go to the factory with a wrapped lunch under their arms, with him walking through them wondering where they will all go and how they will all become. It is no different than today, someone walking down the street wondering what will be of the people around them, were little things done really worth it or was time wasted. Old Woman is a poem, in which Sandburg captivated the hardship and undeniable truth of being homeless, something unfortunately very common and powerful in America. Languages, is yet another

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