Carl Sandburg (1878–1967). Cornhuskers. 1918.

2. River Roads

LET the crows go by hawking their caw and caw.

They have been swimming in midnights of coal mines somewhere.

Let ’em hawk their caw and caw.

Let the woodpecker drum and drum on a hickory stump.

He has been swimming in red and blue pools somewhere hundreds of years

And the blue has gone to his wings and the red has gone to his head.

Let his red head drum and drum.

Let the dark pools hold the birds in a looking-glass.

And if the pool wishes, let it shiver to the blur of many wings, old swimmers from old places.

Let the redwing streak a line of vermillion on the green wood lines.

And the mist along the river fix its purple in lines of a woman’s shawl on lazy shoulders.