HOG Butcher for the World,
Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat,
Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler;
Stormy, husky, brawling,
City of the Big Shoulders:
Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat,
Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler;
Stormy, husky, brawling,
City of the Big Shoulders:
They tell me you are wicked and I believe them, for I
have seen your painted women under the gas lamps
luring the farm boys.
And they tell me you are crooked and I answer: Yes, it
is true I have seen the gunman kill and go free to
kill again.
And they tell me you are brutal and my reply is: On the
faces of women and children I have seen the marks
of wanton hunger.
And having answered so I turn once more to those who
sneer at this my city, and I give them back the sneer
and say to them:
Come and show me another city with lifted head singing
so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning.
Flinging magnetic curses amid the toil of piling job on
job, here is a tall bold slugger set vivid against the
little soft cities;
have seen your painted women under the gas lamps
luring the farm boys.
And they tell me you are crooked and I answer: Yes, it
is true I have seen the gunman kill and go free to
kill again.
And they tell me you are brutal and my reply is: On the
faces of women and children I have seen the marks
of wanton hunger.
And having answered so I turn once more to those who
sneer at this my city, and I give them back the sneer
and say to them:
Come and show me another city with lifted head singing
so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning.
Flinging magnetic curses amid the toil of piling job on
job, here is a tall bold slugger set vivid against the
little soft cities;
Fierce as a dog with tongue lapping for action, cunning
as a savage pitted against the wilderness,
Bareheaded,
Shoveling,
Wrecking,
Planning,
Building, breaking, rebuilding,
Under the smoke, dust all over his mouth, laughing with
white teeth,
Under the terrible burden of destiny laughing as a young
man laughs,
Laughing even as an ignorant fighter laughs who has
never lost a battle,
Bragging and laughing that under his wrist is the pulse.
and under his ribs the heart of the people,
Laughing!
Laughing the stormy, husky, brawling laughter of
Youth, half-naked, sweating, proud to be Hog
Butcher, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with
Railroads and Freight Handler to the Nation.
as a savage pitted against the wilderness,
Bareheaded,
Shoveling,
Wrecking,
Planning,
Building, breaking, rebuilding,
Under the smoke, dust all over his mouth, laughing with
white teeth,
Under the terrible burden of destiny laughing as a young
man laughs,
Laughing even as an ignorant fighter laughs who has
never lost a battle,
Bragging and laughing that under his wrist is the pulse.
and under his ribs the heart of the people,
Laughing!
Laughing the stormy, husky, brawling laughter of
Youth, half-naked, sweating, proud to be Hog
Butcher, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with
Railroads and Freight Handler to the Nation.
This poem begins when the speaker calls Chicago several names, such as - "Hog Butcher", "Tool Maker" and "Stacker of Wheat". Chicago is personified by the speaker to be tough and burly. Then, the speaker talks about a mysterious "they" which tells the speaker that Chicago is "wicked", "crooked" and "brutal". Although these are negative comments about the city, the speaker does tend to agree with them, as he has seen murders, prostitutes and starving families. However the speaker responds to "they" and says Chicago is "so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning." Despite all the dark places Chicago has, the speaker still finds beauty in this vibrant and lively city. The cycle of this city is described as "building, breaking and rebuilding". Chicago must be so happy after hearing all these compliments as it is said that Chicago feels "the heart of the people".
Personally, Chicago is one of my favourite cities in America and ranks #2 on my "Places I Want To Travel To" list. It fits my type of person where there are tall buildings, busy streets and bright city lights. I have only been there for a couple minutes because of my stop at the airport to transfer flights, but judging from descriptions of my friends, Chicago is a city much like New York (which is #1 on my list of places to travel to). After reading this poem, I gained the knowledge of accepting the dark corners of the city. Despite the fact that people kill each other in Chicago like it's a sport, I am very eager to go visit this city and hopefully watch a game of my favourite hockey team, the Chicago Blackhawks.
Personally, Chicago is one of my favourite cities in America and ranks #2 on my "Places I Want To Travel To" list. It fits my type of person where there are tall buildings, busy streets and bright city lights. I have only been there for a couple minutes because of my stop at the airport to transfer flights, but judging from descriptions of my friends, Chicago is a city much like New York (which is #1 on my list of places to travel to). After reading this poem, I gained the knowledge of accepting the dark corners of the city. Despite the fact that people kill each other in Chicago like it's a sport, I am very eager to go visit this city and hopefully watch a game of my favourite hockey team, the Chicago Blackhawks.
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