Clinton South of Polk
free verse
serene
I WANDER down on Clinton street south of Polk And listen to the voices of Italian children quarreling. It is a cataract of coloratura And I could sleep to their musical threats and accusations.
Clinton South of Polk - meaning Summary
Immigrant Street Music
Sandburg paints a brief urban vignette set on Clinton Street south of Polk, where Italian children quarrel. The poem focuses on sound and rhythm: their angry exchanges become a "cataract of coloratura," turning domestic argument into music. The speaker listens with a detached, almost lulling pleasure, suggesting empathy and aesthetic distance toward immigrant life and the city’s everyday chorus. It rewards attentive listening.
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