Carl Sandburg

6 January 1878 – 22 July 1967 / Illinois

Laughing Blue Steel

TWO fishes swimming in the sea,
Two birds flying in the air,
Two chisels on an anvil-maybe.
Beaten, hammered, laughing blue steel to each other-maybe.
Sure I would rather be a chisel with you than a fish.
Sure I would rather be a chisel with you than a bird.
Take these two chisel-pals, O God.
Take 'em and beat 'em, hammer 'em, hear 'em laugh.
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