Class 10 English Poem: Fog Notes Fog by Carl Sandburg is a short poem from the Class 10 English First Flight book. Despite its brief length, the poem creates a clear and powerful image of fog and its movement. The poem is simple, but understanding its imagery and poetic devices is important for exams. About the Poet Carl Sandburg was an American poet known for his simple style and use of everyday images. His poems often describe nature in a unique and imaginative way. Summary of Fog The poem compares fog to a cat. The poet describes how the fog comes silently into the city, just like a cat walks quietly on its feet. It settles over the harbor and the city, covering everything. The fog stays for a while, observing its surroundings, and then moves away just as silently as it came. Central Idea The main idea of the poem is to describe the quiet and mysterious nature of fog. The poet shows how fog appears and disappears silently, without any noise or disturbance. It highlights the calm and gentle movement of nature. Explanation (Line by Line) “The fog comes / on little cat feet.” The poet compares the fog to a cat, suggesting that it moves quietly and smoothly. “It sits looking / over harbor and city” The fog settles over the harbor and city, covering them completely, as if it is observing everything. “on silent haunches / and then moves on.” The fog stays for a short time and then leaves silently, just like a cat. Poetic Devices The poem uses simple but effective poetic devices. The main device is metaphor, where fog is compared to a cat. Imagery is used to create a clear picture of fog covering the city. Personification is also present, as the fog is given qualities of a living being. Themes The poem focuses on the beauty and mystery of nature. It highlights how natural elements can be quiet and gentle. Another theme is change, as the fog comes and goes without warning. Important Questions What is the fog compared to in the poem? The fog is compared to a cat. What is the main message of the poem? The poem shows the quiet and mysterious nature of fog. How does the fog move? The fog moves silently, just like a cat. Why this poem is important This poem is often asked in CBSE exams. Questions usually focus on poetic devices, imagery, and explanation. Since the poem is short, it is easy to prepare and score marks. Final words Fog is a simple yet effective poem that shows how powerful imagery can create a clear picture in the reader’s mind. With proper understanding, this poem becomes easy to revise and helps in scoring well in exams.