I ASKED a gypsy pal
To imitate an old image
And speak old wisdom.
She drew in her chin,
Made her neck and head
The top piece of a Nile obelisk
and said:
Snatch off the gag from thy mouth, child,
And be free to keep silence.
Tell no man anything for no man listens,
Yet hold thy lips ready to speak.
Gypsy
Analysis, meaning and summary of Carl Sandburg's poem Gypsy
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This poem was intriguing. It was mysterious yet told the truth. Gypsy sounds so old time but I like the way they talk about the Gypsy. I love the saying “Tell no man anything for no man listens.” It tells a lot about how Carl thought.