'Waiting' by Carl Sandburg
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Today I will let the old boat stand
Where the sweep of the harbor tide comes in
To the pulse of a far, deep-steady sway.
And I will rest and dream and sit on the deck
Watching the world go by
And take my pay for many hard days gone I remember.
I will choose what clouds I like
In the great white fleets that wander the blue
As I lie on my back or loaf at the rail.
And I will listen as the veering winds kiss me and fold me
And put on my brow the touch of the world's great will.
Daybreak will hear the heart of the boat beat,
Engine throb and piston play
In the quiver and leap at call of life.
To-morrow we move in the gaps and heights
On changing floors of unlevel seas
And no man shall stop us and no man follow
For ours is the quest of an unknown shore
And we are husky and lusty and shouting-gay.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Waiting" by Carl Sandburg: A Literary Analysis
Carl Sandburg’s "Waiting" is a classic poem that has left an indelible mark on the world of literature. Published in 1914, the poem is a reflection on the passage of time and the futility of waiting for something that may never come. In this literary analysis, we will explore the various literary devices and interpretations that make "Waiting" a timeless piece of literature.
The Poem
Before we dive into an analysis of the poem, let us first read it in full:
Out of the nothingness of sleep,
The slow dreams of Eternity,
There was a thunder on the pulse,
A rustling of the immortal robes
That shook me awake to die.
Into the nothingness of scorn and noise,
Into the pit of broken tools,
The wind howled like a wounded beast,
And the rain fell like a curse,
And the dark clouds, like vultures,
Tore open their wings and descended.
Then, the bright silence of Heaven!
The Bells of Paradise, I heard them ringing,
And the Angels, with wings, were singing,
And the Archangels, with golden harps,
Were chanting to the Lord.
And the first Voice, like a silver trumpet,
Thrilled through the silence and said:
“I am Alpha and Omega,
The Beginning and the End.”
And the second Voice, like thunder,
Said: “I am Life and Death,
The Living and the Dead.”
And the third Voice, like a flaming sword,
Said: “To the hungry I will give bread
And to the thirsty I will give water
Without price.”
And I looked, and a pale horse appeared,
And its rider’s name was Death.
And Hell followed him.
And power was given unto them
Over the fourth part of the earth,
To kill with sword,
And with hunger,
And with death,
And with the beasts of the earth.
Analysis
Theme
As with any work of literature, the first thing we must consider is the theme. What is the central message of the poem? What is it trying to convey? In "Waiting," the theme is the futility of waiting for something that may never come.
The poem is broken up into three stanzas, each with its own tone and setting. In the first stanza, we are introduced to the narrator waking up from a dream. The dream is described as a "slow dream of Eternity," suggesting a sense of timelessness and infinite possibility. However, the dream is abruptly interrupted by a thunderous pulse, signaling the end of the dream and the beginning of the harsh reality of life.
The second stanza is set in a more literal and concrete world. It is a world of "scorn and noise" where broken tools litter the ground. The wind howls like a wounded animal, and the rain falls like a curse. The darkness is compared to vultures, suggesting a sense of impending doom. This stanza is a stark contrast to the dreamlike quality of the first stanza.
The third stanza is where the poem takes a turn toward hope. The narrator hears the "Bells of Paradise" and the singing of angels. The Archangels are chanting to the Lord, and the three voices of God are heard. The first voice declares himself to be the beginning and the end, the second declares himself to be life and death, and the third offers to provide sustenance to the hungry and thirsty. The stanza ends with the appearance of Death and Hell, suggesting that even in the most hopeful of situations, death is always lurking.
Imagery
Sandburg’s use of imagery is one of the most striking aspects of "Waiting." The poem is filled with vivid and evocative descriptions that bring the world of the poem to life. In the first stanza, the imagery is dreamlike and otherworldly. The immortal robes rustle, and the narrator is shaken awake to die. This suggests a sense of the infinite and the eternal, as well as the inevitability of death.
In the second stanza, the imagery is much more grounded in reality. The tools are broken, the wind howls, and the rain falls like a curse. The clouds are compared to vultures, suggesting a sense of foreboding and danger. This imagery creates a stark contrast with the dreamlike quality of the first stanza, emphasizing the harshness of reality.
The third stanza is where the imagery becomes the most hopeful. The Bells of Paradise are heard, and the angels are seen with their wings and harps. The Archangels chant, and the three voices of God are heard. This imagery creates a sense of peace and hope, suggesting that even in the darkest of times, there is still a reason to believe in something greater.
Tone
The tone of "Waiting" is one of resignation and acceptance. The poem suggests that waiting for something that may never come is a futile endeavor. The dreamlike quality of the first stanza is interrupted by the harsh reality of the second stanza, and the hope of the third stanza is tempered by the appearance of Death and Hell. The poem acknowledges the inevitability of death, but it also suggests that there is still reason to hope and believe in something greater.
Interpretation
"Waiting" can be interpreted in many ways, but one common interpretation is that it is a reflection on the passage of time and the futility of waiting for something that may never come. The dreamlike quality of the first stanza suggests a sense of infinite possibility and the potential for great things. However, the harsh reality of the second stanza suggests that the world is not always kind or forgiving. The hope of the third stanza suggests that even in the darkest of times, there is still a reason to believe in something greater.
Another interpretation of "Waiting" is that it is a reflection on the inevitability of death. The appearance of Death and Hell at the end of the poem suggests that even in the most hopeful of situations, death is always lurking. This interpretation suggests that the poem is a reminder to live life to the fullest and to embrace every moment, knowing that our time on this earth is limited.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Waiting" is a timeless piece of literature that grapples with the themes of time, death, and hope. Sandburg’s use of vivid imagery and evocative language creates a world that is at once dreamlike and harshly real. The poem suggests that waiting for something that may never come is a futile endeavor, but it also suggests that there is still reason to believe in something greater. "Waiting" is a reminder to live life to the fullest and to embrace every moment, knowing that our time on this earth is limited.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Waiting: A Poem of Patience and Perseverance
Carl Sandburg’s poem “Waiting” is a beautiful ode to the power of patience and perseverance. Written in 1916, the poem captures the essence of the human experience of waiting for something that seems elusive and distant. The poem is a testament to the human spirit and its ability to endure even the most trying of circumstances. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a scene of waiting. The speaker is waiting for something, but we are not told what it is. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with the speaker describing the waiting as “long” and “patient”. The use of the word “patient” is significant, as it suggests that the speaker is not just waiting passively, but actively enduring the waiting with a sense of calm and fortitude.
The second stanza introduces the first hint of what the speaker might be waiting for. The speaker describes the waiting as “a tangle of whirling dust and broken sunlight”. This image suggests that the waiting is not just a passive experience, but an active one, with the waiting itself creating a sense of chaos and confusion. The use of the word “whirling” suggests that the waiting is not just a static experience, but a dynamic one, with the waiting itself creating movement and energy.
The third stanza introduces the second hint of what the speaker might be waiting for. The speaker describes the waiting as “a shape in the mist”. This image suggests that the thing the speaker is waiting for is not yet clear or defined, but rather vague and indistinct. The use of the word “mist” suggests that the thing the speaker is waiting for is shrouded in mystery and uncertainty.
The fourth stanza introduces the third hint of what the speaker might be waiting for. The speaker describes the waiting as “a song in the winds”. This image suggests that the thing the speaker is waiting for is not just a physical object, but something intangible and ephemeral, like a song. The use of the word “winds” suggests that the thing the speaker is waiting for is not just one thing, but many things, like the different notes in a song.
The fifth stanza introduces the fourth hint of what the speaker might be waiting for. The speaker describes the waiting as “a star over a wilderness”. This image suggests that the thing the speaker is waiting for is something rare and precious, like a star in the sky. The use of the word “wilderness” suggests that the thing the speaker is waiting for is something that is hard to find or attain, like a rare gem in a vast and barren landscape.
The sixth stanza introduces the fifth and final hint of what the speaker might be waiting for. The speaker describes the waiting as “a trumpet sound”. This image suggests that the thing the speaker is waiting for is something grand and majestic, like the sound of a trumpet announcing a great event. The use of the word “trumpet” suggests that the thing the speaker is waiting for is something that will be heard by many people, like a call to arms or a proclamation of victory.
The seventh and final stanza brings the poem to a close, with the speaker declaring that they will continue to wait, no matter how long it takes. The use of the word “still” suggests that the waiting has not yet ended, but the speaker is determined to endure it. The use of the word “patient” again reinforces the idea that the waiting is not just a passive experience, but an active one, with the speaker actively enduring the waiting with a sense of calm and fortitude.
In terms of themes, the poem is about the power of patience and perseverance. The speaker is waiting for something that seems elusive and distant, but they are determined to endure the waiting no matter how long it takes. The poem is also about the human experience of waiting, and how waiting can be both a passive and an active experience. The waiting in the poem is not just a static experience, but an active one, with the waiting itself creating movement and energy.
In terms of imagery, the poem is full of vivid and evocative images that capture the essence of the waiting experience. The use of the word “whirling” in the second stanza creates a sense of chaos and confusion, while the use of the word “mist” in the third stanza creates a sense of mystery and uncertainty. The use of the word “winds” in the fourth stanza creates a sense of movement and change, while the use of the word “wilderness” in the fifth stanza creates a sense of vastness and barrenness. The use of the word “trumpet” in the sixth stanza creates a sense of grandeur and majesty.
In terms of language, the poem is written in a simple and straightforward style that is easy to understand. The use of repetition, particularly the repetition of the word “patient”, creates a sense of rhythm and momentum that carries the poem forward. The use of imagery and metaphor creates a sense of depth and complexity that invites the reader to explore the poem’s deeper meaning.
In conclusion, “Waiting” is a beautiful and powerful poem that captures the essence of the human experience of waiting. The poem is about the power of patience and perseverance, and how waiting can be both a passive and an active experience. The poem is full of vivid and evocative imagery that captures the essence of the waiting experience, and the language is simple and straightforward, yet rich and complex. Overall, “Waiting” is a timeless poem that speaks to the human spirit and its ability to endure even the most trying of circumstances.
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