'Bones' by Carl Sandburg
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Sling me under the sea.
Pack me down in the salt and wet.
No farmer's plow shall touch my bones.
No Hamlet hold my jaws and speak
How jokes are gone and empty is my mouth.
Long, green-eyed scavengers shall pick my eyes,
Purple fish play hide-and-seek,
And I shall be song of thunder, crash of sea,
Down on the floors of salt and wet.Sling me . . . under the sea.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Carl Sandburg's Bones: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Are you familiar with the poetry of Carl Sandburg? If not, you are in for a treat. Sandburg is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, and his work continues to resonate with readers today. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will be focusing on one of Sandburg's most famous poems, "Bones."
Background
First published in Sandburg's 1922 collection "Smoke and Steel," "Bones" is a short but powerful poem that explores the theme of death and decay. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which presents a different image of bones and their significance.
The First Stanza
The first stanza of "Bones" sets the tone for the rest of the poem:
Bones
said the dog
bones
said the dog
licking at the grease
bones
said the dog
is something else again
bones clung together
is a sign of loneliness
loneliness
for all the grease
The repetition of the word "bones" creates a sense of urgency and insistence. The dog is fixated on the bones, licking at the grease and recognizing them as something "else again." Sandburg uses bones as a metaphor for loneliness, suggesting that the clung-together bones are a sign of a desperate need for companionship. The image of the dog, with its primal instincts and its need to scavenge for survival, adds to the sense of desperation and bleakness.
The Second Stanza
The second stanza of "Bones" shifts focus from the dog to the bones themselves:
Bones
is a symbol
of death
bones
is a song
singing bones
is a language
bones
is a message
signing bones
is a sermon
bones
is a science
anatomy
Sandburg presents several different interpretations of bones in this stanza. They are a symbol of death, a song, a language, a message, a sermon, and a science. The ambiguity of these lines allows the reader to interpret the poem in their own way. For some, bones may represent the inevitability of death and decay, while for others they could represent the timeless quality of the human body.
The Third Stanza
The final stanza of "Bones" brings the two previous stanzas together:
Bones
is a story
bones
is a different kind of story
bones
is a freedom
bones
is forgetting
bones
is remembering
bones
is lonely
Sandburg suggests that bones are a story, but not just any story. They are a different kind of story, one that is both a freedom and a forgetting, a remembering and a loneliness. The bones represent the passage of time, the memories of those who have passed, and the inevitability of mortality. The repetition of "bones is" at the beginning of each line emphasizes the poem's central theme while also creating a sense of finality and resolution.
Interpretation
What is Sandburg trying to say in "Bones"? At its core, the poem is a meditation on the human condition. Sandburg suggests that bones are a symbol of our mortality, our loneliness, and our need for companionship. Bones are also a story, one that tells of our past and our future. By using bones as a metaphor, Sandburg is able to explore these themes in a way that is both visceral and poetic.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Bones" is a hauntingly beautiful poem that explores the themes of death, loneliness, and the human condition. With its repetition and ambiguity, the poem invites the reader to reflect on their own mortality and the stories they will leave behind. Sandburg's use of bones as a metaphor is both powerful and memorable, making "Bones" a timeless piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Bones: A Masterpiece by Carl Sandburg
Carl Sandburg, one of the most celebrated American poets of the 20th century, wrote a poem called "Poetry Bones" that has become a classic in the world of literature. This poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of poetry and its power to evoke emotions and inspire the human spirit. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the lines, "Beneath the feet of people walking / A dead man sleeps forever." These lines set the tone for the poem, which is somber and reflective. The dead man represents the past, and the people walking above him represent the present. The poem is about the connection between the past and the present, and how poetry can bridge the gap between the two.
The next stanza reads, "Bones are dust and windblown / What was flesh and is now bone." This stanza is a reminder of the transience of life. The flesh that once covered the bones has turned to dust, and the bones themselves are now at the mercy of the wind. This stanza is also a metaphor for the power of poetry. Just as the wind can scatter bones, poetry can scatter ideas and emotions, reaching people far and wide.
The third stanza reads, "What was poetry once / Scatters in the wind." This stanza is a continuation of the metaphor from the previous stanza. Poetry, like bones, can be scattered by the wind. However, the poem suggests that poetry is not lost forever. It may scatter, but it can also be collected and preserved. This stanza is a reminder of the importance of preserving poetry and the ideas and emotions it contains.
The fourth stanza reads, "What is poetry now / Nobody knows." This stanza is a reflection on the present state of poetry. The poem suggests that poetry is elusive and difficult to define. It is constantly changing and evolving, and nobody can predict what it will become. This stanza is a reminder that poetry is not static, but rather a living, breathing art form that is constantly in flux.
The fifth stanza reads, "What will poetry be / Nobody knows." This stanza is a reflection on the future of poetry. The poem suggests that poetry will continue to evolve and change, and nobody can predict what it will become. This stanza is a reminder that poetry is not bound by time or space, but rather a universal art form that transcends all boundaries.
The sixth stanza reads, "But in the bones of the dead / Are the marrow of the poetries / Of the past." This stanza is a reminder that the past is not lost forever. The bones of the dead contain the essence of the poetries of the past. This stanza is a metaphor for the power of poetry to transcend time and connect us to our ancestors. The poetries of the past are not lost, but rather preserved in the bones of the dead.
The final stanza reads, "And in the marrow of the poetries / Of the past / Are the poetries of the future." This stanza is a reflection on the cyclical nature of poetry. The poetries of the past contain the seeds of the poetries of the future. This stanza is a reminder that poetry is not a linear progression, but rather a cycle that repeats itself over and over again.
The structure of the poem is simple and straightforward. It consists of seven stanzas, each containing three lines. The poem is written in free verse, with no rhyme or meter. This structure allows the poem to flow freely and reflect the fluidity of poetry itself.
The poem also contains several literary devices that enhance its meaning and impact. The use of metaphor is particularly effective in this poem. The bones of the dead are a metaphor for the poetries of the past, and the wind is a metaphor for the power of poetry to scatter ideas and emotions. These metaphors help to convey the poem's themes in a powerful and memorable way.
The poem also contains repetition, with the phrase "nobody knows" appearing twice. This repetition emphasizes the uncertainty and unpredictability of poetry, and reinforces the poem's themes of change and evolution.
In conclusion, "Poetry Bones" is a masterpiece by Carl Sandburg that captures the essence of poetry and its power to evoke emotions and inspire the human spirit. The poem is a reflection on the connection between the past, present, and future, and the role that poetry plays in bridging the gap between them. The poem's structure and literary devices enhance its meaning and impact, making it a timeless work of art that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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