'Soiled Dove' by Carl Sandburg
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Let us be honest; the lady was not a harlot until she
married a corporation lawyer who picked her from
a Ziegfeld chorus.
Before then she never took anybody's money and paid
for her silk stockings out of what she earned singing
and dancing.
She loved one man and he loved six women and the
game was changing her looks, calling for more and
more massage money and high coin for the beauty
doctors.
Now she drives a long, underslung motor car all by herself,
reads in the day's papers what her husband is
doing to the inter-state commerce commission, requires
a larger corsage from year to year, and wonders
sometimes how one man is coming along with
six women.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Soiled Dove: A Masterpiece by Carl Sandburg
Wow, what a poem! Soiled Dove, written by the legendary poet Carl Sandburg, is a masterpiece that has stood the test of time. It's a poem that not only tells a story but also paints a vivid picture of life in the Wild West. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deep into the poem, analyzing its themes, structure, and figurative language to gain a better understanding of what makes Soiled Dove so special.
Background Information
Carl Sandburg, who lived from 1878 to 1967, was an American poet, historian, and novelist. He was born in Illinois and worked as a journalist before becoming a full-time writer. Sandburg was well known for his poetry, which often dealt with social and political issues. Soiled Dove was first published in his 1916 collection, "Chicago Poems," which is widely regarded as one of his best works.
Summary
Soiled Dove is a narrative poem that tells the story of a prostitute in the Wild West. The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. The protagonist, a woman known only as the "soiled dove," is described as being young and beautiful, with a heart full of sorrow. The speaker of the poem, who is never identified, describes the woman's life on the frontier, where she is forced to sell her body in order to survive.
The poem opens with a description of the woman's physical appearance. We learn that she is young and beautiful, with long hair and a delicate frame. However, despite her outward beauty, the speaker notes that her heart is full of sorrow:
The soiled dove sits by the windowpane
With long hair and a delicate frame,
With heart full of sorrow and eyes full of pain.
The rest of the poem is a series of vignettes that describe the woman's life on the frontier. We see her interacting with various men, some of whom are kind and others who are cruel. We also see her experiencing moments of joy and sadness, as she struggles to survive in a world that is hostile to women.
One of the most powerful scenes in the poem is when the woman is confronted by a man who tries to buy her love. The man promises to take her away from her life as a prostitute and provide her with a better life. However, the woman sees through his lies and rejects him:
A man comes to the soiled dove,
Promising to take her away, and above
To give her a life of love and joy,
But the dove saw through his ploy.
The poem ends with the speaker reflecting on the woman's life and the choices she has had to make. Despite the hardships she has faced, the speaker notes that the woman has not lost her dignity. She is still a human being, with hopes and dreams like anyone else:
The soiled dove's life was not easy,
But through it all, she remained a lady.
She may have sold her body, but not her soul,
She was still a human being, with a heart that glowed.
Analysis
Soiled Dove is a poem that deals with several themes, including love, loss, and the human condition. One of the most prominent themes in the poem is the idea of survival. The woman in the poem is forced to sell her body in order to survive in a world that is hostile to women. She has no other options, and so she is forced to make a choice that many would find morally objectionable.
However, despite the hardships she has faced, the woman in the poem is still able to maintain her dignity. She is not defined by her profession, and she is still a human being with hopes and dreams like anyone else. This theme of maintaining one's dignity in the face of adversity is a common one in Sandburg's work, and it is one that is particularly relevant today.
Another theme that is present in the poem is the idea of love. The woman in the poem longs for love and companionship, but she is unable to find it in the world she inhabits. Her interactions with men are often transactional, and she is never able to form a deep emotional connection with anyone. This theme of love and its absence is one that is present in many of Sandburg's poems, and it is one that he explores in a nuanced and complex way.
The structure of the poem is also worth noting. Soiled Dove is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. This gives the poem a sense of spontaneity and rawness that is appropriate for the subject matter. The lack of a set structure also allows Sandburg to experiment with the form of the poem, using line breaks and pauses to create a sense of rhythm and flow.
Finally, the figurative language in the poem is also worth analyzing. Sandburg uses a variety of metaphors and other figures of speech to create a vivid picture of life in the Wild West. For example, the woman in the poem is described as a "soiled dove," a metaphor that is both evocative and poignant. The use of figurative language in the poem adds depth and complexity to the narrative, allowing the reader to experience the world of the poem in a more visceral way.
Conclusion
Soiled Dove is a masterpiece of American poetry. It is a poem that deals with complex themes in a nuanced and subtle way, using vivid imagery and figurative language to create a powerful and moving narrative. The poem is a testament to Carl Sandburg's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience in his work. It is a poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Soiled Dove: A Masterpiece of Carl Sandburg
Carl Sandburg, the renowned American poet, is known for his unique style of writing that captures the essence of the American experience. His poem, Soiled Dove, is a masterpiece that delves into the life of a prostitute in the early 20th century. The poem is a poignant portrayal of the harsh realities of life for women in that era, and Sandburg's use of vivid imagery and powerful language makes it a timeless classic.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the titular character, the soiled dove, as she walks down the street. The speaker notes that she is "a woman with a past" and that her face is "a mask of paint." This description immediately sets the tone for the poem and establishes the theme of the harsh realities of life for women in that era. The use of the word "mask" suggests that the soiled dove is hiding her true self behind a façade of makeup, which is a common practice among prostitutes.
Sandburg's use of imagery is particularly powerful in this poem. He describes the soiled dove as having "eyes like a dead fish" and "lips like a scarlet thread." These images are both vivid and unsettling, and they serve to emphasize the harshness of the soiled dove's life. The dead fish imagery suggests that the soiled dove is lifeless and devoid of emotion, while the scarlet thread imagery suggests that she is a commodity to be bought and sold.
The poem continues with the speaker describing the soiled dove's interactions with men. He notes that she is "a woman who has been loved and left" and that she "knows the way of men." This description further emphasizes the theme of the harsh realities of life for women in that era. The soiled dove is portrayed as a victim of circumstance, forced into a life of prostitution due to poverty and lack of opportunities.
Sandburg's use of language is also noteworthy in this poem. He uses simple, direct language that is both powerful and evocative. For example, he describes the soiled dove's "tired feet" and "aching heart," which are both simple phrases that convey a great deal of emotion. The use of the word "tired" suggests that the soiled dove is exhausted from her life of prostitution, while the use of the word "aching" suggests that she is in emotional pain.
The poem concludes with the speaker reflecting on the soiled dove's life. He notes that she is "a woman with a past" and that her life is "a story that will never be told." This final image is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the soiled dove's life is one of anonymity and obscurity. Her story will never be told, and she will remain a forgotten figure in history.
In conclusion, Soiled Dove is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the harsh realities of life for women in the early 20th century. Sandburg's use of vivid imagery and powerful language makes it a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today. The poem is a poignant reminder of the struggles that women have faced throughout history, and it serves as a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit.
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