| Carl Sandburg (1878–1967). Chicago Poems. 1916. |
| |
| 10. Passers-by |
| |
| |
| PASSERS-BY, | |
| Out of your many faces | |
| Flash memories to me | |
| Now at the day end | |
| Away from the sidewalks | 5 |
| Where your shoe soles traveled | |
| And your voices rose and blent | |
| To form the city’s afternoon roar | |
| Hindering an old silence. | |
| |
| Passers-by, | 10 |
| I remember lean ones among you, | |
| Throats in the clutch of a hope, | |
| Lips written over with strivings, | |
| Mouths that kiss only for love. | |
| Records of great wishes slept with, | 15 |
| Held long | |
| And prayed and toiled for.. | |
| |
| Yes, | |
| Written on | |
| Your mouths | 20 |
| And your throats | |
| I read them | |
| When you passed by. | |
| |
|
|
|
