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To Beachey—1912

by Carl Sandburg, 1916

Riding against the east,
 A veering, steady shadow
 Purrs the motor-call
 Of the man-bird
 Ready with the death-laughter
 In his throat
 And in his heart always
 The love of the big blue beyond.

 Only a man,
 A far fleck of shadow on the east
 Sitting at ease
 With his hands on a wheel
 And around him the large gray wings.
 Hold him, great soft wings,
 Keep and deal kindly, O wings,
 With the cool, calm shadow at the wheel.

Published in Chicago Poems
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