SILVER NAILS
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.
— Carl Sandburg (1878-1967)
("Chicago Poems", 1916)
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