Silver Nails Poem by Carl Sandburg

Silver Nails

Rating: 2.5


A man was crucified. He came to the city a stranger,
was accused, and nailed to a cross. He lingered hanging.
Laughed at the crowd. "The nails are iron," he
said, "You are cheap. In my country when we crucify
we use silver nails. . ." So he went jeering. They
did not understand him at first. Later they talked about
him in changed voices in the saloons, bowling alleys, and
churches. It came over them every man is crucified
only once in his life and the law of humanity dictates
silver nails be used for the job. A statue was erected
to him in a public square. Not having gathered his
name when he was among them, they wrote him as John
Silvernail on the statue.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Michael Walker 20 October 2019

There are echoes of the crucifixion of Jesus in 'Silver Nails'. Unlike Jesus, this man mocks his executioners for using cheap, iron nails, thus turning the tables on them. Jesus accepted his fate passively, but this man does not. Use silver nails, not iron ones.

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