Carl Sandburg: The Poet and Historian of Common People

Introduction

Carl Sandburg was an American poet, journalist, and folklorist who earned his fame by writing about the common people and their lives. He was also a serious historian, although some might argue that his humorous way of presenting history may not have always kept things 100% factual.

Early Life

Carl Sandburg was born in 1878 in Galesburg, Illinois, to Swedish immigrant parents. He spent his early years working on his family’s farm, where he learned to appreciate the value of hard work and the beauty of nature. It was said by his mother that he was singing and reciting poetry before he could even read.

Career as a Poet

Sandburg made his name as a poet, publishing his first collection in 1904. His poetry often dealt with themes of love, nature, and social justice. However, he is most famous for his collection “Chicago Poems,” which celebrated the city’s common folks and their lives.

In one of his famous poems, “Fog,” he described the fog in Chicago by saying, “The fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on.” He not only made the city’s residents proud of their city but also gave the city’s fog its own quirky personality.

Humorous Historian

Sandburg was also a serious historian, earning a Pulitzer Prize for his biography of Abraham Lincoln. He was famous for his humorous way of presenting historical events, which made even the most dull and dry events entertaining.

For example, in his book “The Prairie Years,” Sandburg recounted one time when Lincoln was defending a man accused of stealing a hog. Lincoln questioned the farmer who identified the hog by asking, “How could you tell if one hog looks like another? Were there identifying marks on the hog – tattoos, perhaps?” Lincoln’s wit not only made the trial more interesting but also helped to win the case.

Conclusion

Carl Sandburg was a true artist in every sense of the word. He brought humor to the common people and their struggles, and his love for nature and history was contagious. One could say that he was the People’s Poet or the Historian of the People, immortalizing the lives and stories of the common person like no one else could.