Remorse
Remorse - meaning Summary
Identity Beyond a Name
Sandburg’s poem confronts the gap between a name and a living character. A horse called Remorse is mocked yet proves brilliant in races and even inspires a stage play. The speaker then insists labels or insults do not define him, asking only for occasional recognition—a touch, a wish—so he might be freed to flash like wind. The poem argues for identity as action and spirit rather than imposed names.
Read Complete AnalysesTHE HORSE'S name was Remorse. There were people said, 'Gee, what a nag!' And they were Edgar Allan Poe bugs and so They called him Remorse. When he was a gelding He flashed his heels to other ponies And threw dust in the noses of other ponies And won his first race and his second And another and another and hardly ever Came under the wire behind the other runners. And so, Remorse, who is gone, was the hero of a play By Henry Blossom, who is now gone. What is there to a monicker? Call me anything. A nut, a cheese, something that the cat brought in. Nick me with any old name. Class me up for a fish, a gorilla, a slant head, an egg, a ham. Only ... slam me across the ears sometimes ... and hunt for a white star In my forehead and twist the bang of my forelock around it. Make a wish for me. Maybe I will light out like a streak of wind.
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