CBSE Class 10 English Fog Summary: The poem Fog by Carl Sandburg summary is an important part of the CBSE Class 10 English syllabus under the First Flight textbook. This short poem has been included to help students understand the use of imagery and metaphor in poetry.
The Fog summary explains how the poet compares fog to a cat, highlighting its silent and mysterious movement. As per the latest CBSE Class 10 syllabus, it is often asked in exams through extract-based questions or short answers. Understanding the poem's theme and literary devices is essential for scoring well in the Class 10 English exam.
Here is the poem fog summary. The poet describes the quiet arrival of fog, comparing it to the soft steps of a little cat. Just as a cat moves silently and unnoticed, the fog enters the city slowly and calmly. It spreads over the harbor and the city, folding around everything like a cat resting, observing its surroundings. After some time, the fog quietly moves on, leaving no trace, emphasizing its fleeting and subtle presence.
Poem: Fog
The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbour and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
– Carl Sandburg
Explanation:
In this poem, the poet personifies fog by comparing it to a cat. He says the fog comes quietly, just like a cat that walks softly on its paws. The fog spreads over the city and the harbour without making a sound, the way a cat calmly sits on its haunches and watches its surroundings. Then, just as quietly as it came, the fog disappears, moving away without a trace.
This comparison helps students visualize the calm, mysterious nature of fog. It also shows how natural elements can be poetic and full of life when observed closely. The use of metaphor and personification adds depth to the poem while keeping the language simple and understandable.
Carl Sandburg (1878–1967) was an acclaimed American poet, biographer, journalist, and folklorist born in Galesburg, Illinois, to Swedish immigrant parents. From a working-class background, he left school early for labor jobs, served in the Spanish-American War, then became a socialist organizer and Chicago reporter, capturing industrial life's raw energy in free verse.
His breakthrough Chicago Poems (1916) celebrated urban workers; he won three Pulitzers, including for Lincoln biographies and Complete Poems (1951), with "Fog" in CBSE Class 10 symbolizing nature's stealth. Sandburg's populist voice immortalized American heartland struggles through accessible, vivid imagery.
The poem Fog by Carl Sandburg beautifully captures the quiet and mysterious arrival and departure of fog through the metaphor of a cat. It encourages readers to observe nature closely and appreciate its silent movements.
The simplicity of the poem hides a deeper meaning, reflecting the transient and unpredictable nature of life. This poem helps students understand the power of imagery and metaphor in poetry, making it an important part of the CBSE Class 10 English First Flight syllabus.
Students preparing for the CBSE Class 10 English exam can easily revise the poem “Fog” by Carl Sandburg with the help of our well-structured summary and explanation notes. This PDF includes the complete poem, detailed explanation, literary devices, and key meanings to support last-minute revisions and concept clarity. The fog poem summary PDF download link is provided below for your convenience.
| Class 10 English First Flight Poem Summary Chapter-Wise Links |
| Dust of Snow - Robert Frost |
| A Tiger in the Zoo - Leslie Norris |
| How to Tell Wild Animals - Carolyn Wells |
| The Ball Poem - John Berryman |
| Amanda! - Robin Klein |
| The Trees - Adrienne Rich |
| Fog - Carl Sandburg |
| The Tale of Custard the Dragon - Ogden Nash |
| For Anne Gregory - W.B. Yeats |