Previously unknown Sandburg poem focuses on power of the gun
Photo by
Ben Woloszyn
Ben Woloszyn
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In an apparently unpublished and previously unknown poem, Carl Sandburg addressed the topic of guns. Titled “A Revolver,” the short piece was discovered last week among Sandburg’s archives, housed in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champai
The poem, typed on a manual typewriter on onionskin paper, was discovered by a library volunteer. | Photo by Ben Woloszyn
Read whole article from the Illinois Education News to get a feel for how exciting this newly found poem is for the Carl Sandburg Library and all of us. The author tells us “I think it’s so interesting that Sandburg says poetically what we all know about guns: that they are the final word,” Hotchkiss said. “But he takes the idea one step forward to meditate on the effect of guns on freedom of speech – how the First Amendment is watered down by the Second Amendment. If somebody has a gun to your head, you can’t speak freely.”
My writing teacher brought us this recently discovered poem as a writing prompt this week. In light of Sandy Hook Shooting In November and 2 Police killed with a gun yesterday in peaceful Santa Cruz, Carl Sandburg’s poem speaks to us from the past but as if he were here today. What does he say to you?
Please feel free to pass this on, even to Obama, if you can.
Light Words 
Oh, my goodness, what a poem. I will most certainly pass it on. Thanks for the great find!!!
LikeLike
It does my heart good to know these words are out!
LikeLike
I think he is saying…being that a gun is so powerful…be sure when you use it…There is no turning back of the consequences…Death is forever…
LikeLike
that is a powerful statement as well, Marilyn.
LikeLike
You have such a beautiful blog, Carol! Both the writing and the photos.
Are you going to publish your writing to the poem?
LikeLike
Thank you Barbara, I thought you had seen it before.
I’m thinking about posting my writing in some form.
LikeLike
wow! Some things change and some things stay the same! Back then, right now, these old beliefs persist, these old notions of right and might remain. We so need to change our ways, change our world. Although guns are not a huge concern here in Canada, shootings, killings, still happen. What if all the guns, in all the world, disappeared tomorrow? yes, we would still find ways to kill one another. Maybe, though, we would pause and wonder why.
LikeLike
Beautiful essay Joss, I’ve been thinking about The Samurai who were trained warriors, at the same time mindful enough to do every thing not to fight until all option were exhausted. they would pause as you say. We CAN imagine all guns disappearing and the world we would have, can’t we?
LikeLike
and perhaps, just perhaps, through the power of our collective imagination, through our own pausing , we can truly bring that world into being.
LikeLike
collectively one at a time we can create the world we dream of,,,who’s with me?
LikeLike