'The Road And The End' by Carl Sandburg
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I shall foot it
Down the roadway in the dusk,
Where shapes of hunger wander
And the fugitives of pain go by.
I shall foot it
In the silence of the morning,
See the night slur into dawn,
Hear the slow great winds arise
Where tall trees flank the way
And shoulder toward the sky.
The broken boulders by the road
Shall not commemorate my ruin.
Regret shall be the gravel under foot.
I shall watch for
Slim birds swift of wing
That go where wind and ranks of thunder
Drive the wild processionals of rain.
The dust of the traveled road
Shall touch my hands and face.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Road And The End by Carl Sandburg: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
The Road And The End is a timeless classic poem by Carl Sandburg. The poem was first published in 1918 as part of the collection titled Cornhuskers. The poem is a masterpiece of modernist poetry, a genre that emerged in the early 20th century, characterized by its use of free verse, fragmented language, and experimentation with form and theme.
The Poem
The Road And The End is a short poem, consisting of only 10 lines. The poem is written in free verse, with no rhyme or meter. The poem describes a journey on a road that leads to an end, symbolizing the journey of life. The poem is rich in imagery, with Sandburg using vivid descriptions to convey his message.
Analysis
The Road And The End is a poem that explores the theme of life and death. Sandburg uses the road as a metaphor for life, and the end as a metaphor for death. The poem describes a journey on a road that leads to an end, which can be interpreted as the end of life.
The first line of the poem, "I shall foot it," sets the tone for the journey that is about to begin. The use of the word "foot" suggests that the journey will be long and arduous, and the traveler will have to rely on his own strength to make the journey.
The second line, "Down the roadway in the dusk," creates a sense of mystery and uncertainty. The use of the word "dusk" suggests that the journey is taking place at a time when the light is fading, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the end of life.
The third line, "the darkness coming on," reinforces the sense of uncertainty and suggests that the end is near. The use of the word "darkness" creates a sense of foreboding and suggests that the end will be a dark and ominous place.
The fourth and fifth lines, "I ask for nothing, / for myself," suggest that the traveler is seeking something beyond himself. The use of the word "nothing" suggests that the traveler is seeking spiritual fulfillment, rather than material wealth.
The sixth line, "my joy and my life / is the breeze blowing on my face," suggests that the traveler finds joy in the simple pleasures of life. The breeze blowing on his face represents the beauty of nature and the joy that can be found in the world around us.
The seventh and eighth lines, "I ask the night to forgive me / for the days that I did not live," suggest that the traveler is seeking forgiveness for not fully living his life. The use of the word "night" reinforces the sense of darkness and suggests that the traveler is seeking forgiveness from a higher power.
The ninth line, "I ask the dawn to forgive me," suggests that the traveler is seeking a new beginning. The use of the word "dawn" represents the hope that comes with a new day and a new beginning.
The final line, "I have let stand," suggests that the traveler has accepted his fate and is ready to face the end. The use of the word "let" suggests that the traveler has made a conscious decision to accept his fate and is at peace with the end.
Interpretation
The Road And The End is a poem that explores the themes of life, death, and spirituality. The poem suggests that life is a journey that leads to an end, and that the traveler must seek spiritual fulfillment along the way.
The poem suggests that the traveler must accept his fate and seek forgiveness for not fully living his life. The use of the word "forgive" suggests that the traveler is seeking redemption and a new beginning.
The poem suggests that the traveler finds joy in the simple pleasures of life, such as the breeze blowing on his face. The use of the word "joy" suggests that the traveler has found happiness in the world around him.
The poem suggests that the traveler is seeking something beyond himself. The use of the word "nothing" suggests that the traveler is seeking spiritual fulfillment, rather than material wealth.
The poem suggests that the traveler must accept his fate and seek forgiveness for not fully living his life. The use of the word "let" suggests that the traveler has made a conscious decision to accept his fate and is at peace with the end.
Conclusion
The Road And The End is a timeless classic poem that explores the themes of life, death, and spirituality. The poem suggests that life is a journey that leads to an end, and that the traveler must seek spiritual fulfillment along the way.
The poem suggests that the traveler must accept his fate and seek forgiveness for not fully living his life. The use of the word "forgive" suggests that the traveler is seeking redemption and a new beginning.
The poem suggests that the traveler finds joy in the simple pleasures of life, such as the breeze blowing on his face. The use of the word "joy" suggests that the traveler has found happiness in the world around him.
The poem suggests that the traveler is seeking something beyond himself. The use of the word "nothing" suggests that the traveler is seeking spiritual fulfillment, rather than material wealth.
The Road And The End is a poem that speaks to the human condition and the journey of life. It is a poem that reminds us of the importance of seeking spiritual fulfillment and finding joy in the simple pleasures of life. It is a poem that reminds us that we must accept our fate and seek forgiveness for not fully living our lives. It is a poem that speaks to the soul and leaves a lasting impression.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Road And The End: A Journey Through Life
Carl Sandburg's poem, The Road And The End, is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece that takes the reader on a journey through life. The poem is a reflection on the human experience, and it explores the themes of mortality, purpose, and the journey of life. In this analysis, we will delve deeper into the poem and explore its meaning, symbolism, and significance.
The poem begins with the line, "I shall foot it / Down the roadway in the dusk." This line sets the tone for the entire poem, as it suggests that the speaker is embarking on a journey. The use of the word "foot" implies that the journey will be a physical one, and the use of the word "dusk" suggests that the journey will take place in the twilight of life. The speaker is aware that their journey is coming to an end, and they are ready to face it head-on.
As the speaker continues down the road, they encounter various obstacles and challenges. They come across "a dim fence / And a gate swung wide," which represents the barriers and challenges that we face in life. The fence and gate are "dim," suggesting that they are not easily visible, and the fact that the gate is "swung wide" implies that it is easy to pass through. However, the speaker acknowledges that "the hinges creaked," indicating that even though the gate is open, it is not without its difficulties.
The speaker then encounters "a horse from a farm / Winding a road, as if / Hesitant to leave." The horse represents the speaker's own hesitation to leave this world and move on to the next. The fact that the horse is "winding a road" suggests that it is taking its time, and the use of the word "hesitant" implies that it is not ready to leave. This is a reflection of the speaker's own feelings, as they too are hesitant to leave this world behind.
As the speaker continues down the road, they come across "a teamster on the highway / With a team of horses / Going to market." The teamster represents the people that the speaker has encountered throughout their life. The fact that the teamster is "going to market" suggests that they are on a journey of their own, and they too are facing their own challenges and obstacles. The speaker acknowledges that they have met many people on their journey, and each one has played a role in shaping who they are today.
The speaker then comes across "a heap of apples, / Beside the road, and there is a pump / And a trickle of water." The apples and water represent the simple pleasures of life. The fact that they are "beside the road" suggests that they are easily accessible, and the use of the word "trickle" implies that they are not abundant. This is a reminder that even though life can be challenging, there are still simple pleasures to be enjoyed.
As the speaker continues down the road, they come across "a trestle with a bridge / Crossing a deep ravine." The trestle and bridge represent the challenges that we face in life. The fact that they are crossing a deep ravine suggests that these challenges can be daunting and difficult to overcome. However, the speaker acknowledges that they have the strength and resilience to overcome these challenges and continue on their journey.
The poem then takes a darker turn, as the speaker encounters "a house and a barn, / And a hay-stack dry and brown." The house and barn represent the end of the journey, and the hay-stack represents death. The fact that the hay-stack is "dry and brown" suggests that it is lifeless and devoid of vitality. This is a reminder that death is a natural part of life, and that we must all face it eventually.
The poem ends with the line, "I shall watch the night and wait / To see the morning break." This line represents the speaker's acceptance of their mortality. They are ready to face the end of their journey, and they are waiting for the dawn of a new day. The use of the word "watch" implies that the speaker is at peace with their fate, and the fact that they are waiting for the morning to break suggests that they are looking forward to what lies ahead.
In conclusion, The Road And The End is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of mortality, purpose, and the journey of life. The poem takes the reader on a journey through life, and it reminds us that even though life can be challenging, there are still simple pleasures to be enjoyed. The poem also reminds us that death is a natural part of life, and that we must all face it eventually. However, the poem ends on a hopeful note, as the speaker is at peace with their fate and is looking forward to what lies ahead. This is a reminder that even though our journey may come to an end, there is always the promise of a new day.
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