Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Carl Sandburg (1878–1967). Smoke and Steel. 1922.

IX. Haze

2. Cadenza

THE KNEES

of this proud woman

are bone.

The elbows

of this proud woman

are bone.

The summer-white stars

and the winter-white stars

never stop circling

around this proud woman.

The bones

of this proud woman

answer the vibrations

of the stars.

In summer

the stars speak deep thoughts

In the winter

the stars repeat summer speeches.

The knees

of this proud woman

know these thoughts

and know these speeches

of the summer and winter stars.