Chapter 41: Other Carl Sandburg Poems – Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
The chapter opens with a mock interview: editor asks Carl Sandburg if he has any more poetry after his famous “Chicago” poem. Sandburg replies that he has written “erotic poetry about every other major city in North America.” The rest of the chapter consists of short, mock-Sandburg odes to Cincinnati, Boston, Newport, Austin, New York, Philadelphia, and Indianapolis. Each city is personified as a love interest or a sensual object. Cincinnati is teased for its name (“double sin”). Boston is described with exaggerated vowel sounds and “scrod thwacked upon the hard seaport piers.” Newport is an object of breathless desire, with images of yachting and boat shoes. Austin is addressed as if it has gotten a new haircut and smells good. New York gets a dismissive “Eh I’d do it.” Philadelphia is reduced to “big bells” and its art museum steps. Indianapolis receives the most extensive treatment: Sandburg would definitely sleep with it but would be discreet, worried about Chicago finding out and labeling Indianapolis the “second city.” The chapter satirizes Sandburg’s style and the American impulse to rank and romanticize cities.
Key Events
- Editor asks Carl Sandburg if he has more poems after “Chicago”; Sandburg claims he has erotic poems about every other major North American city.
- Cincinnati poem: puns on “double sin” and references to Grandin Road.
- Boston poem: highlights baked beans, harbor, non-rhotic accent, and “scrod thwacked upon the hard seaport piers.”
- Newport poem: breathless admiration of yachting, boat shoes, and a vaguely ridiculous salad-ordering man.
- Austin poem: Austin is addressed as a handsome acquaintance who has “been working out” and smells good; “Keep Austin Weird” is subverted.
- New York poem: a single line “Eh I’d do it.”
- Philadelphia poem: mentions the Liberty Bell, the art museum steps, and the absurd repetition of climbing them.
- Indianapolis poem: detailed internal monologue about a one‑night stand, with concerns about discretion and Chicago’s feelings.
- Implied meta‑comment on Chicago’s nickname “Second City” and the rivalry with Indianapolis.
Character Development
- Carl Sandburg: Presented as a parody of the earnestly sensual poet. He does not grow or change; his character is a fixed comedic voice that reduces every city to a potential lover.
- Cities (Personified): Chicago is the initial love interest; Cincinnati, Boston, Newport, Austin, New York, Philadelphia, and Indianapolis are each given distinct personalities—Cincinnati sly, Boston rough, Newport alluring, Austin cool, New York casual, Philadelphia playful, Indianapolis awkwardly endearing.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Parody of Literary Canon: The chapter mocks Sandburg’s poetic voice by applying his style to mundane or absurd subjects.
- Personification of Urban Identity: Each city becomes a character with physical traits, accents, and social quirks.
- Eroticizing the Mundane: Everyday city elements (baked beans, boat shoes, salad orders) are treated as objects of desire.
- Competition and Hierarchy: The Indianapolis poem explicitly worries about ranking (“second city”) and jealousy among cities, reflecting American urban rivalries.
- Repetition and Anti‑Climax: The “Eh I’d do it” for New York deflates the epic tone, suggesting comic exhaustion.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a pure comedic break in Petri’s satirical history. It demonstrates how the author uses literary parody to critique American cultural icons—here, Carl Sandburg and the habit of romanticizing cities. The Indianapolis poem in particular satirizes the anxiety around regional identity and the constant comparison to Chicago. The chapter also shows Petri’s technique of taking a famous work (“Chicago”) and extending it to absurd lengths. In the larger context of the book, it lampoons the way historical and literary figures are treated as sex symbols or objects of parody.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Petri use the structure of Sandburg’s original “Chicago” poem to create humor in the other city odes?
The original poem is full of short, punchy lines and a raw, sensual appreciation of the city. Petri mimics that structure but applies it to less obviously grand cities (Cincinnati, Newport) or to mundane details (Boston’s diphthongs, Philadelphia’s steps). The incongruity between the elevated poetic voice and the everyday subjects generates comedy.
2. Why does the Indianapolis poem receive the longest treatment? What does it reveal about American urban identity?
Indianapolis is treated with a mix of genuine affection and comic insecurity. The poet wants to “do” Indianapolis but is worried about how Chicago would react, and about his own reputation. This mirrors the real‑world tension between Midwestern cities and the dominance of Chicago. It reveals that urban identity is often defined in relation to a more famous neighbor.
3. What is the effect of the one‑line New York poem (“Eh I’d do it”)?
The brevity and casual dismissal contrast sharply with the elaborate odes to smaller cities. It deflates New York’s cultural importance, suggesting that the city is too obvious to deserve a full poem. The line also punctures the erotic buildup of the other poems, revealing the parody’s underlying absurdity.