Author: Oliver Wendell Holmes
Chicago sounds rough to the maker of verse; One comfort we have - Cincinnati sounds worse; If we only were licensed to say Chicago! But Worcester and Webster won't let us, you know. No matter, we songsters must sing as we can; We can make some nice couplets with Lake Michigan, And what more resembles a nightingale's voice, Than the oily trisyllable, sweet Illinois? Your waters are fresh, while our harbor is salt, But we know you can't help it - it is n't your fault; Our city is old and your city is new, But the railroad men tell us we're greener than you. You have seen our gilt dome, and no doubt you've been told That the orbs of the universe round it are rolled; But I'll own it to you, and I ought to know best, That this is n't quite true of all stars of the West. You'll go to Mount Auburn, - we'll show you the track, - And can stay there, - unless you prefer to come back; And Bunker's tall shaft you can climb if you will, But you'll puff like a paragraph praising a pill. You must see - but you have seen - our old Faneuil Hall, Our churches, our school-rooms, our sample-rooms, all; And, perhaps, though the idiots must have their jokes, You have found our good people much like other folks. There are cities by rivers, by lakes, and by seas, Each as full of itself as a cheese-mite of cheese; And a city will brag as a game-cock will crow Don't your cockerels at home - just a little, you know? But we'll crow for you now - here's a health to the boys, Men, maidens, and matrons of fair Illinois, And the rainbow of friendship that arches its span From the green of the sea to the blue Michigan!
Type of Poem: Clerihew
Date Written:
Date Published:
Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Publisher:
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Comments/Notes: This poem is a playful, humorous examination of city rivalries and regional pride, with a focus on Chicago and the speaker's home city. The poet uses a conversational tone, employing both rhyme and meter to establish a lively rhythm that carries the reader through the poem. The playful jab at the sound of "Chicago" in the opening lines sets the tone for the entire piece.
The poet explores the theme of regional identity, contrasting the "new" city of Chicago with the speaker's "old" city. While initially emphasizing the differences, the speaker eventually acknowledges the shared human experience among all cities. The poet uses a variety of metaphors and similes to illustrate this, such as comparing cities to cheese-mites and game-cocks. The use of the rainbow as a symbol for friendship in the final lines serves as a unifying image, tying together the various cities mentioned throughout the poem.
Despite the poem's light-hearted tone, it subtly acknowledges the inherent flaws and merits in each city, suggesting that pride and criticism can coexist. The poem's ultimate message is one of unity and camaraderie - despite the friendly rivalries, all cities and their inhabitants are interconnected, contributing to the rich tapestry of human experience.