One of
America's neglected
national treasures.
No one ever wrote more effectively or more powerfully about
American blue collar workers. His
poems are
full of
beautiful language, vivid
imagery, brutal
passion, and an obvious
love for his
subjects, whether they were
steelworkers,
farmers,
unemployed laborers, or the forces of
nature. He is best known for his
powerhouse ode to "
Chicago", and he also wrote a
biography of
Abraham Lincoln.
Sandburg was the first
poet I read, back in
high school, who didn't need to use
flowery or
archaic language to get his point across. He understood that a poet should be speaking the
common language of his
readers, instead of erecting
barriers by using unnecessary
frills and
twirls. Too many poets write for a tiny
audience of intellectuals,
English professors, and other poets; Sandburg was writing for
everyone.
He's still my
favorite poet, and he probably always will be.