Advertisement

Latter Day Poetry

Cabbages and Kings

By combining the central theme of man's isolation with Carl Sandburg, "Ain't Got No Home" may have immortalized itself:

"I ain't got a mother,

I ain't got a father,

I ain't got a sister,

Not even a brother,

Advertisement

I'm a lonely frog,

I ain't got a home."

It would be unfair, however, to claim that popular songs are limited to American problems, rather than the universals. The love odes of modern song often recall Shelley at his most exuberant:

"Tra la la, tra la la

You're as sweet as a candy bar

Tra la la, tra la lye,

I'm so happy that I could die."

The same time of imagery and inner turmoil can be heard again in another hit:

"Dear, I believe you won't laugh

When you receive this rose and a Baby Ruth."

Advertisement