Buttons - A poem by Carl Sandburg

Carl Sandburg - Buttons

I HAVE been watching the war map slammed up for
advertising in front of the newspaper office.
Buttons--red and yellow buttons--blue and black buttons--
are shoved back and forth across the map.

A laughing young man, sunny with freckles,
Climbs a ladder, yells a joke to somebody in the crowd,
And then fixes a yellow button one inch west
And follows the yellow button with a black button one
inch west.

(Ten thousand men and boys twist on their bodies in
a red soak along a river edge,
Gasping of wounds, calling for water, some rattling
death in their throats.)
Who would guess what it cost to move two buttons one
inch on the war map here in front of the newspaper
office where the freckle-faced young man is laughing
to us?

Added: on March 13th, 2008 at 10:51 PM | Viewed: 7247 times | Comments and analysis of Buttons by Carl Sandburg Comments (6)

Buttons - Comments and Information
Poet: Carl Sandburg (Carl Sandburg Art) Poem: 7. Buttons Volume: Chicago Poems - War Poems (1914-1915) Year: Published/Written in 1914 Comment 6 of 6, added on March 13th, 2009 at 11:44 AM. This poem was published in 1905, and is a commentary on American expansion west. Emily from United States Comment 5 of 6, added on November 27th, 2008 at 4:28 AM. The different colours suggest the enemies. The agony is described between brakets.The tragedy is reflected by the boy, and he gave information. mirta sosa from Argentina Comment 4 of 6, added on March 13th, 2008 at 10:51 PM. The poem was published in 1905, years before the start of the Great War. So it obviously has nothing to do with a war that hadn't happened yet. It would appear to be a much more general critique of wars in general and a discontinuity between people fighting a war and people "supporting" a war. American Student from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Buttons, has received 6 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Carl Sandburg with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Carl Sandburg Poem: 7. Buttons Volume: Chicago Poems - War Poems (1914-1915) Year: Published/Written in 1914 Last read: Dec 11 2009, 1:39PM Viewed 7247 times. Added on March 13th, 2008 at 10:51 PM.

Sandburg Info
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