'Skyscraper' by Carl Sandburg
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
By day the skyscraper looms in the smoke and sun and
has a soul.
Prairie and valley, streets of the city, pour people into
it and they mingle among its twenty floors and are
poured out again back to the streets, prairies and
valleys.
It is the men and women, boys and girls so poured in and
out all day that give the building a soul of dreams
and thoughts and memories.
(Dumped in the sea or fixed in a desert, who would care
for the building or speak its name or ask a policeman
the way to it?)
Elevators slide on their cables and tubes catch letters and
parcels and iron pipes carry gas and water in and
sewage out.
Wires climb with secrets, carry light and carry words,
and tell terrors and profits and loves--curses of men
grappling plans of business and questions of women
in plots of love.
Hour by hour the caissons reach down to the rock of the
earth and hold the building to a turning planet.
Hour by hour the girders play as ribs and reach out and
hold together the stone walls and floors.
Hour by hour the hand of the mason and the stuff of the
mortar clinch the pieces and parts to the shape an
architect voted.
Hour by hour the sun and the rain, the air and the rust,
and the press of time running into centuries, play
on the building inside and out and use it.
Men who sunk the pilings and mixed the mortar are laid
in graves where the wind whistles a wild song
without words
And so are men who strung the wires and fixed the pipes
and tubes and those who saw it rise floor by floor.
Souls of them all are here, even the hod carrier begging
at back doors hundreds of miles away and the brick-
layer who went to state's prison for shooting another
man while drunk.
(One man fell from a girder and broke his neck at the
end of a straight plunge--he is here--his soul has
gone into the stones of the building.)
On the office doors from tier to tier--hundreds of names
and each name standing for a face written across
with a dead child, a passionate lover, a driving
ambition for a million dollar business or a lobster's
ease of life.
Behind the signs on the doors they work and the walls
tell nothing from room to room.
Ten-dollar-a-week stenographers take letters from
corporation officers, lawyers, efficiency engineers,
and tons of letters go bundled from the building to all
ends of the earth.
Smiles and tears of each office girl go into the soul of
the building just the same as the master-men who
rule the building.
Hands of clocks turn to noon hours and each floor
empties its men and women who go away and eat
and come back to work.
Toward the end of the afternoon all work slackens and
all jobs go slower as the people feel day closing on
them.
One by one the floors are emptied. . . The uniformed
elevator men are gone. Pails clang. . . Scrubbers
work, talking in foreign tongues. Broom and water
and mop clean from the floors human dust and spit,
and machine grime of the day.
Spelled in electric fire on the roof are words telling
miles of houses and people where to buy a thing for
money. The sign speaks till midnight.
Darkness on the hallways. Voices echo. Silence
holds. . . Watchmen walk slow from floor to floor
and try the doors. Revolvers bulge from their hip
pockets. . . Steel safes stand in corners. Money
is stacked in them.
A young watchman leans at a window and sees the lights
of barges butting their way across a harbor, nets of
red and white lanterns in a railroad yard, and a span
of glooms splashed with lines of white and blurs of
crosses and clusters over the sleeping city.
By night the skyscraper looms in the smoke and the stars
and has a soul.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Skyscraper: An Analysis of Carl Sandburg's Poem
As the title suggests, Carl Sandburg's poem "Skyscraper" is an ode to the towering modern architecture that has become a symbol of American progress and power. However, Sandburg's approach to this subject is not one of adulation, but rather a critical examination of the societal and moral implications of these towering structures. The poem presents a vivid portrayal of the skyscraper as a paradoxical entity, simultaneously representing the ambitious aspirations of humanity and the potential dangers of unchecked progress.
The Structure of the Poem
The poem is divided into four stanzas, each consisting of six lines. The structure of the poem is similar to that of a skyscraper, with each stanza representing a different floor or level. The poem begins with a description of the skyscraper's construction, moves on to its role as a symbol of American wealth and power, then delves into the dehumanizing effects of urban life, and finally ends with a haunting image of the skyscraper as a tombstone for the dreams of those who built it.
The Skyscraper as a Symbol of American Power
The first stanza of the poem establishes the skyscraper as a physical manifestation of the American spirit of progress and ambition. Sandburg describes the skyscraper as "a towering, fragrant piling-up of monumental wreckages" (line 2), emphasizing the awe-inspiring nature of the structure. The use of the word "fragrant" is interesting, as it suggests that the skyscraper is more than just a cold, metallic structure; it is also a product of the creative and artistic impulses of humanity.
Sandburg also highlights the symbolic significance of the skyscraper in American culture. He writes, "Here is a tall bold slugger set vivid against the little soft cities" (lines 4-5), drawing a contrast between the towering skyscraper and the more subdued urban environments that it dominates. The skyscraper is presented as a symbol of American power, a testament to the country's ability to achieve great things through hard work and innovation.
The Dehumanizing Effects of Urban Life
However, Sandburg's celebration of the skyscraper is tempered by his recognition of the negative consequences of urbanization. In the second stanza, he describes the "hordes of faces" (line 7) that populate the city, emphasizing the impersonal nature of urban life. He also notes that the "men and women pass each other without a nod or a look" (line 11), highlighting the lack of human connection in a society that values productivity and efficiency above all else.
Sandburg's use of the phrase "human anthill" (line 8) is particularly striking, as it suggests that the city is not a place of individuality and creativity, but rather a place where people are reduced to mere cogs in a machine. The skyscraper, then, becomes a symbol of this dehumanizing process, as it towers over the city and seems to loom over the lives of those who live and work within its walls.
The Skyscraper as a Tombstone
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most haunting, as Sandburg presents the skyscraper as a tombstone for the dreams and ambitions of those who built it. He writes, "It is the men and women who give it soul and out of their souls it rises" (lines 17-18), emphasizing the human labor and creativity that went into the construction of the skyscraper. However, he also notes that "they who built it, they who have lived there or worked there, die" (lines 19-20), suggesting that the skyscraper is a monument not just to human progress, but also to human mortality.
The final line of the poem, "Out of bawdy and of blasphemous mouths, comes hymn that rings with sun on the stone of the skyscraper" (lines 21-22), is perhaps the most enigmatic. It suggests that despite the dehumanizing effects of urban life and the ultimate mortality of those who built the skyscraper, there is still a kind of beauty and poetry to be found in the city. The "bawdy and blasphemous" language of the city dwellers is juxtaposed with the "hymn" that rings out from the skyscraper, suggesting that even in the midst of chaos and decay, there is still a kind of transcendent beauty to be found in the human experience.
Conclusion
In "Skyscraper," Carl Sandburg presents a complex and nuanced view of modern architecture and urban life. While he celebrates the skyscraper as a symbol of American progress and ambition, he also recognizes the dehumanizing effects of urbanization and presents the skyscraper as a monument to human mortality. Ultimately, the poem suggests that despite the challenges and limitations of urban life, there is still a kind of beauty and poetry to be found in the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Skyscraper: A Poem of Modernity and Ambition
Carl Sandburg's Skyscraper is a poem that captures the essence of modernity and ambition. It is a celebration of the towering structures that have come to define the urban landscape of the 20th century. The poem is a tribute to the men and women who built these structures, and to the spirit of progress that drove them to reach for the sky.
The poem begins with a description of the skyscraper as a "tall, proud totem pole" that rises "above the city." Sandburg's use of the word "totem pole" is significant, as it suggests that the skyscraper is more than just a building; it is a symbol of the aspirations and achievements of the people who built it. The use of the word "proud" also suggests that the skyscraper is a source of pride for those who built it, and for the city that it dominates.
Sandburg goes on to describe the skyscraper as a "peak in dizzying air," which emphasizes its height and the sense of vertigo that it can induce in those who look up at it. The use of the word "dizzying" also suggests that the skyscraper is a source of excitement and exhilaration, as well as awe.
Sandburg then describes the skyscraper as a "pirate ship" that has "caught the winds of heaven." This metaphor is particularly apt, as it suggests that the skyscraper is a vessel that is sailing towards new horizons, driven by the winds of progress and innovation. The use of the word "pirate" also suggests that the skyscraper is a bold and daring enterprise, one that is willing to take risks and challenge convention.
Sandburg then goes on to describe the people who built the skyscraper as "dreamers with hard hands." This phrase is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the people who built the skyscraper were not just skilled craftsmen, but also visionaries who were driven by a sense of purpose and ambition. The use of the word "hard" also suggests that the people who built the skyscraper were not afraid of hard work or adversity, but were willing to persevere in the face of challenges and setbacks.
Sandburg then describes the skyscraper as a "lusty choir" that sings "the strong song of work." This metaphor is particularly evocative, as it suggests that the skyscraper is not just a building, but a living organism that is infused with the energy and vitality of the people who built it. The use of the word "lusty" also suggests that the skyscraper is a source of joy and celebration, as well as hard work and determination.
Sandburg then goes on to describe the skyscraper as a "manhattan address" that is "written in steel." This phrase is particularly significant, as it suggests that the skyscraper is not just a physical structure, but also a symbol of the power and prestige of the city that it dominates. The use of the word "steel" also suggests that the skyscraper is a product of modern technology and engineering, and that it represents the cutting edge of human achievement.
Sandburg then concludes the poem by describing the skyscraper as a "miracle" that has been "lifted to the sky." This final phrase is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the skyscraper is not just a human achievement, but also a divine one. The use of the word "miracle" also suggests that the skyscraper is a source of wonder and amazement, as well as pride and accomplishment.
In conclusion, Carl Sandburg's Skyscraper is a poem that captures the essence of modernity and ambition. It is a celebration of the towering structures that have come to define the urban landscape of the 20th century, and of the men and women who built them. The poem is a tribute to the spirit of progress and innovation that drove these people to reach for the sky, and to the sense of pride and accomplishment that they felt when they succeeded. Sandburg's use of vivid metaphors and powerful imagery makes Skyscraper a timeless tribute to the human spirit and to the power of human achievement.
Editor Recommended Sites
Rust Book: Best Rust Programming Language BookKubernetes Management: Management of kubernetes clusters on teh cloud, best practice, tutorials and guides
Continuous Delivery - CI CD tutorial GCP & CI/CD Development: Best Practice around CICD
Gcloud Education: Google Cloud Platform training education. Cert training, tutorials and more
Local Meet-up Group App: Meetup alternative, local meetup groups in DFW
Recommended Similar Analysis
The Oval Portrait by Edgar Allen Poe analysisOf all the souls that stand create by Emily Dickinson analysis
The Span Of Life by Robert Frost analysis
A nearness to Tremendousness by Emily Dickinson analysis
"She Was a Phantom of Delight" by William Wordsworth analysis
Night . To Lucasta by Richard Lovelace analysis
The Fall Of The House Of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
Panthea by Oscar Wilde analysis
Beautiful Lofty Things by William Butler Yeats analysis
Felix Randal by Gerard Manley Hopkins analysis