Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CHILD MARGARET by CARL SANDBURG

Poet Analysis

First Line: THE CHILD MARGARET BEGINS TO WRITE NUMBERS ON A SATURDAY MORNING
Last Line: MILLIONS OF RAG DOLLS, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF NEW RAG DOLLS!!)
Subject(s): CHILDREN; DOLLS; TOYS; CHILDHOOD;
THE child Margaret begins to write numbers on a Saturday morning, the
first numbers formed under her wishing child fingers.
All the numbers come well-born, shaped in figures assertive for a
frieze in a child's room.
Both 1 and 7 are straightforward, military, filled with lunge and
attack, erect in shoulder-straps.
The 6 and 9 salute as dancing sisters, elder and younger, and 2 is a
trapeze actor swinging to handclaps.
All the numbers are well-born, only 3 has a hump on its back and 8 is
knock-kneed.
The child Margaret kisses all once and gives two kisses to 3 and 8.
(Each number is a bran-new rag doll ... O in the wishing fingers ...
millions of rag dolls, millions and millions of new rag dolls!!)




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