I am glad God saw Death
And gave Death a job taking care of all who are tired of living
When all the wheels in a clock are worn and slow and the connections loose
And the clock goes on ticking and telling the wrong time from hour to hour
And people around the house joke about what a bum clock it is.
How glad the clock is when the big Junk Man drives his wagon
Up to the house and puts his arms around the clock and says
"You don’t belong here,
You gotta come
Along with me,"
How glad the clock is then, when it feels the arms of the Junk Man close around it and carry it away
I am busy working to bring Carl Sandburg's "The Junk Man" to life through some unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you later.
In the meantime, I invite you to explore the poem's themes, structure, and meaning. You can also check out the gallery for other musical arrangements or learn more about Carl Sandburg's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "The Junk Man" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.