Chicago HQ

— Carl Sandburg’s 1916 poem “Chicago” is one of the best known works of 20th century American literature and is included in countless anthologies pf classic poetic style. This poem made famous the description of Chicago as the “City of the Big Shoulders,” and celebrated its role at the time as the industrial capital of the United States. We include it because of its timeless descriptive beauty.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:They tell me you are wicked and I believe them, for Ihave seen your painted women under the gas lampsluring the farm boys.And they tell me you are crooked and I answer: Yes, itis true I have seen the gunman kill and go free tokill again.And they tell me you are brutal and my reply is: On thefaces of women and children I have seen the marksof wanton hunger.And having answered so I turn once more to those whosneer at this my city, and I give them back the sneerand say to them:Come and show me another city with lifted head singingso proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning.Flinging magnetic curses amid the toil of piling job onjob, here is a tall bold slugger set vivid against thelittle soft cities;Fierce as a dog with tongue lapping for action, cunningas a savage pitted against the wilderness,Bareheaded,Shoveling,Wrecking,Planning,Building, breaking, rebuilding,Under the smoke, dust all over his mouth, laughing withwhite teeth,Under the terrible burden of destiny laughing as a youngman laughs,Laughing even as an ignorant fighter laughs who hasnever 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 ofYouth, half-naked, sweating, proud to be HogButcher, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player withRailroads and Freight Handler to the Nation.