Boston Poem

This is my version of Carl Sandburg’s “Chicago” which I presented in my English class this year. The link to Sandburg’s original poem written in 1914 is found at the bottom of this post. The overall point of the poem is that although there are these stereotypes and qualities about Boston and its population, one cannot help but be proud of the city and proud to be a Bostonian.

Accent harder than a brick

Shipbuilder, Rum maker

Bleeding Liberals and Yankee haters

Bulky, populated, hoarse

City of the Tea Dumpers:

They tell me you are uncharitable and I believe them, for I have seen the soup kitchen lines and the children upon children with signs in their hands begging for survival.

And they tell me you are cynical and I answer: Yes, it is true I have seen the homicides, robberies, and kidnappings pass freely without closure and justice.

And they tell me you are merciless and my reply is: With the proof of history I have seen the reality this city exposes.

And having answered so I turn once more to those who disapprove at this my city, and I give them back their disapproval and say to them:

Come and show me another city with a population so educated and so proud to be among the educated.

Amid the racial and social diversity are high hopes of reaching the American Dream.

Hard-headed,

Dreaming,

Analyzing,

Pondering,

Loving, laughing, learning

Under the pressures of society, continuing to tread on

Under the false hope and barricades, continuing to tread on

Treading as one who has never lost,

Throwing his fist in the air, yelling in the moment

Treading on!

Treading along the path to destiny, with an accent harder than a brick, a shipbuilder, rum maker, proud to be a Bleeding Liberal and a Yankee hater.

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/detail/12840