Quote by Carl Sandburg: “Lay me on an anvil, O God. Beat me and hammer me into a crowbar.”

This powerful metaphor expresses a desire to be forged and strengthened through hardship, to become a tool capable of breaking barriers and effecting change. It speaks to the human spirit's longing for purpose and resilience in the face of adversity.

Written during a period of intense industrialization and labor struggles in Chicago, this poem reflects the gritty, transformative power of industry and the human desire for strength and utility in a rapidly changing world.

American poet, biographer, journalist, and editor. He won three Pulitzer Prizes: two for his poetry and one for his biography of Abraham Lincoln. Sandburg was known for his free verse and his celebration of the American working class and landscape.