Many writings around the world have explored universal phenomena such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Yet, is there any literary genius who tried to explain this vast concept in just a few lines of poetry, giving it an epic or lasting touch? If yes, then who wrote an epic poem about depression?? The answer is Carl Sandberg. Yes, he used his poetic intelligence in his remarkable poetic piece, “The People, Yes”, in which he skillfully represented the depression era and its harmful impact on society.
“The People, Yes” by Carl Sandberg
Carl Sandberg wrote this poem during the Great Depression of the 1930s. It was a stressful time for America as the country was witnessing its worst. Death was at its peak, and so was birth. Sandberg highlights the positive attributes of the US President, Abraham Lincoln, who remained steadfast during trying times. His upright position and positive attitude proved to be a boon for a nation undergoing economic depression.
Through this simple text, he shows the readers how he was a promising leader and a person with high ideals. Instead of giving false hopes to the masses, he practically worked for their better future. Also, he cleverly handled the geopolitical situation of America. The poet thinks that this great leader left a legacy behind that will continue to spread the message of hope, optimism, and peace in the world.
Abraham Lincoln, a Great Leader
Usually, when a country is hit by acute social issues like poverty, inflation, economic recession, and political haphazard, even leaders redefine their international relations. They try to figure out ways to cope with the damaging issues by hook or by crook. However, Abraham Lincoln also recognized the core issues and tried to solve them while maintaining a friendly environment with neighboring nations and within his country. Even during that hard time, he preferred democracy over dictatorship.
Conclusion
To conclude, depression co-exists with man. Nothing in the world remains constant; everything undergoes various changes. However, some changes are pleasant, but sometimes significant changes cause the great depression. To handle depression, one needs to be calm, content, and optimistic. Significantly when a country faces suppressing issues that cause harm to the masses. A great responsibility lies on the shoulders of the stakeholders that how they will tackle the troubling situation. They need to use their power intelligently and cleverly to save their nation from devastating damages. This is what Carl Sandberg, who wrote an epic poem about the depression, did in his piece of writing.
See Also:
“The Flying Cat” by Naomi Shihab Nye
