Carl SandburgCarl Sandburg

1878-19671878-1967

an American writer an American writer and editor, best and editor, best known for his poetry. known for his poetry. He won two Pulitzer He won two Pulitzer Prizes, one for his Prizes, one for his poetry and another for poetry and another for a biography of a biography of Abraham Lincoln. H. L. Abraham Lincoln. H. L. Mencken called Carl Mencken called Carl Sandburg "indubitably Sandburg "indubitably an American in every an American in every pulse-beat."pulse-beat."

Life and WritingsLife and Writings

Carl Sandburg was born in Galesburg, Carl Sandburg was born in Galesburg, Illinois, as the son of poor Swedish Illinois, as the son of poor Swedish immigrant parents. His father was August immigrant parents. His father was August Sandburg, a blacksmith and railroad worker, Sandburg, a blacksmith and railroad worker, who had changed his name from Johnson. who had changed his name from Johnson. His mother was the former Clara Anderson. His mother was the former Clara Anderson.

Carl Sandburg worked from the time he was Carl Sandburg worked from the time he was a young boy. He quit school following his a young boy. He quit school following his graduation from eighth grade in 1891 and graduation from eighth grade in 1891 and spent a decade working a variety of jobs.spent a decade working a variety of jobs.

LifeLife He delivered milk, harvested ice, laid bricks, He delivered milk, harvested ice, laid bricks,

threshed wheat in Kansas, and shined shoes in threshed wheat in Kansas, and shined shoes in Galesburg's Union Hotel before traveling as a hobo Galesburg's Union Hotel before traveling as a hobo in 1897. in 1897.

His experiences working and traveling greatly His experiences working and traveling greatly influenced his writing and political views. influenced his writing and political views.

He saw first-hand the sharp contrast between rich He saw first-hand the sharp contrast between rich and poor, a dichotomy that instilled in him a and poor, a dichotomy that instilled in him a distrust of capitalism. distrust of capitalism.

When the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898 When the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898 Sandburg volunteered for service, and at the age Sandburg volunteered for service, and at the age of twenty was ordered to Puerto Rico, where he of twenty was ordered to Puerto Rico, where he spent days battling only heat and mosquitoes. spent days battling only heat and mosquitoes.

LifeLife Upon his return to his hometown later that Upon his return to his hometown later that

year, he entered Lombard College, supporting year, he entered Lombard College, supporting himself as a call fireman. himself as a call fireman.

Sandburg's college years shaped his literary Sandburg's college years shaped his literary talents and political views. While at Lombard, talents and political views. While at Lombard, Sandburg joined the Poor Writers' Club, an Sandburg joined the Poor Writers' Club, an informal literary organization whose members informal literary organization whose members met to read and criticize poetry. met to read and criticize poetry.

Poor Writers' founder, Lombard professor Poor Writers' founder, Lombard professor Phillip Green Wright, a talented scholar and Phillip Green Wright, a talented scholar and political liberal, encouraged the talented political liberal, encouraged the talented young Sandburg. young Sandburg.

LifeLife The Sandburgs soon moved to Chicago, The Sandburgs soon moved to Chicago,

where Carl became an editorial writer for the where Carl became an editorial writer for the Chicago Chicago Daily NewsDaily News. .

At party headquarters in Milwaukee, At party headquarters in Milwaukee, Sandburg met Lilian Steichen, whom he Sandburg met Lilian Steichen, whom he married in 1908. married in 1908.

Sandburg was virtually unknown to the Sandburg was virtually unknown to the literary world when, in 1914, a group of his literary world when, in 1914, a group of his poems appeared in the nationally circulated poems appeared in the nationally circulated Poetry magazine. Poetry magazine.

Two years later his book Two years later his book Chicago PoemsChicago Poems was was published and the thirty-eight-year-old author published and the thirty-eight-year-old author found himself on the brink of a career that found himself on the brink of a career that would bring him international acclaim. would bring him international acclaim.

LifeLife

In the twenties, he started some of his In the twenties, he started some of his most ambitious projects, including his most ambitious projects, including his study of Abraham Lincoln. study of Abraham Lincoln.

His Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years, His Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years, published in 1926, was Sandburg's first published in 1926, was Sandburg's first financial success.financial success.

The War YearsThe War Years, for which he won the , for which he won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940. Pulitzer Prize in 1940.

Sandburg's Complete Poems won him a Sandburg's Complete Poems won him a second Pulitzer Prize in 1951. second Pulitzer Prize in 1951.

LifeLife

From 1945 he lived as a farmer and writer, From 1945 he lived as a farmer and writer, breeding goats and folk-singing, in Flat breeding goats and folk-singing, in Flat Rock, North Carolina. Rock, North Carolina.

Sandburg died at his North Carolina home Sandburg died at his North Carolina home July 22, 1967. His ashes were returned, as July 22, 1967. His ashes were returned, as he had requested, to his Galesburg he had requested, to his Galesburg birthplace. birthplace.

In the small Carl Sandburg Park behind the In the small Carl Sandburg Park behind the house, his ashes were placed beneath house, his ashes were placed beneath Remembrance Rock, a red granite boulder. Remembrance Rock, a red granite boulder.

SelectionSelection

A. ChicagoA. Chicago

B. FogB. Fog

C. The HarborC. The Harbor

FOG

The fog comesOn little cat feet.It sits lookingOver harbor and

cityOn silent

haunchesAnd then, moves

on.

雾来了踮着猫步

弓腰蹲坐静静俯视港湾和城市复又缓缓游移

Fog Fog "Fog," is among the few exceptions that "Fog," is among the few exceptions that

mark Sandburg's break from free verse mark Sandburg's break from free verse poetry. Fog", a mere six lines long, is written poetry. Fog", a mere six lines long, is written in verse-form and is an innocent expression in verse-form and is an innocent expression of finding beauty in an ordinary world. of finding beauty in an ordinary world.

"Fog" is a delightful poem, using simple "Fog" is a delightful poem, using simple imagery. imagery.

There aren't a lot of words, and the image, There aren't a lot of words, and the image, at first look, isn't very complex. However, at first look, isn't very complex. However, like a haiku poem, there is far more than like a haiku poem, there is far more than just the description of the movement of just the description of the movement of misty air. Fog leaves the natural and misty air. Fog leaves the natural and becomes surreal and ethereal, but always becomes surreal and ethereal, but always anchored to the familiar reality we all know. anchored to the familiar reality we all know.