Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


MAN, THE MAN-HUNTER by CARL SANDBURG

Poet Analysis

First Line: I SAW MAN, THE MAN-HATER
Last Line: THE -- SON OF A BITCH.
Subject(s): COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR; HATE; SOCIAL PROTEST; MOBS; CROWDS;

I saw Man, the man-hater,
Hunting with a torch in one hand,
And a kerosene can in the other,
Hunting with guns, ropes, shackles.

I listened
And the high cry rang.
The high cry of Man, the man-hunter:
We'll get you yet, -- you -- Son of a Bitch!

I listened later,
The high cry rang:
Kill him! Kill him! -- the Judean equivalent -- the Son of a Bitch!

In the morning the sun saw
Two butts of something, a smoking rump,
And a warning in charred wood:
Well, we got him,
the -- Son of a Bitch.



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