Carl Sandburg packs a whole lesson into two short sentences. The speaker is giving direct advice: if you are going to speak, do it wisely, and pick each word with care. The comparison to an old woman over a bushel of apples is the heart of the poem. She doesn’t grab blindly; she turns each apple over, checks for bruises, and keeps only what is sound. In the same way, a wise speaker weighs words before letting them out. The tone is firm but calm, almost like an elder giving quiet instruction. It creates a mood of patience and deliberation, with a homely, rural image that makes the advice feel grounded and practical rather than abstract. The word “sir” adds a note of respect, but also a little distance, as if the speaker is reminding someone—perhaps even the reader—to slow down and speak with intention. It’s a tiny poem, but it asks for a lot of restraint.
Basket — Summary
Speak, sir, and be wise. Speak choosing your words, sir, like an old woman over a bushel of apples.