Poem Analysis - Laughing Blue Steel

Initial Impression and Tone

Carl Sandburg's "Laughing Blue Steel" presents a whimsical yet profound exploration of companionship and resilience. The poem's tone is playful and lighthearted, yet it carries an undercurrent of determination and strength. The speaker's voice shifts from a playful comparison of different states of being to a more earnest plea, creating a dynamic mood that engages the reader.

Themes of Companionship and Resilience

The poem primarily explores the themes of companionship and resilience. The speaker compares two fishes swimming in the sea and two birds flying in the air to two chisels being beaten and hammered on an anvil. This comparison suggests that the speaker values the strength and endurance found in the chisels over the freedom and ease of the fishes and birds. The repeated phrase "Sure I would rather be a chisel with you than a fish" and "Sure I would rather be a chisel with you than a bird" emphasizes the speaker's preference for a life of shared struggle and resilience over one of ease and independence. The use of the word "chisel-pals" further underscores the theme of companionship, highlighting the bond between the two chisels.

Symbolism of the Chisels

The chisels serve as a powerful symbol in the poem. They represent strength, endurance, and the ability to withstand hardship. The fact that they are described as "laughing blue steel" adds a layer of joy and defiance to their resilience. The chisels are not merely enduring their trials; they are laughing through them, suggesting a form of triumph and joy in the face of adversity. The speaker's desire to be a chisel with someone else indicates a longing for a partner who can share in this strength and resilience. The chisels are also a symbol of transformation, as they are shaped and reshaped by the hammer and anvil, much like how individuals are shaped by their experiences.

Invoking the Divine

The final lines of the poem, "Take 'em and beat 'em, hammer 'em, hear 'em laugh," invoke a higher power, suggesting a sense of fate or divine intervention. The speaker's plea to "O God" to take the chisels and subject them to further trials implies a belief in a higher purpose or meaning behind their struggles. This invocation adds a spiritual dimension to the poem, suggesting that the speaker finds solace and strength in the idea of a divine plan. The repetition of the word "hear" emphasizes the importance of the chisels' laughter, as if their joy in the face of adversity is a testament to their faith and resilience.

Conclusion

In "Laughing Blue Steel," Carl Sandburg crafts a poem that celebrates the strength and joy found in shared struggle. Through vivid imagery and symbolic language, the poem explores the themes of companionship and resilience, highlighting the speaker's preference for a life of shared endurance over one of ease. The chisels, with their "laughing blue steel," serve as a powerful symbol of strength and transformation, inviting the reader to consider the value of resilience and the joy that can be found in overcoming adversity. The poem's final invocation to a higher power adds a spiritual dimension, suggesting that the speaker finds meaning and solace in the idea of a divine plan. Ultimately, "Laughing Blue Steel" offers a profound meditation on the nature of strength, companionship, and the transformative power of struggle.