"There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud"

Carl Sandburg’s vivid juxtaposition of the eagle and the hippopotamus serves as a metaphor for the duality inherent in human nature. The eagle, a universal symbol of aspiration, freedom, and transcendence, embodies the drive to rise above the mundane, pursue lofty ideals, or achieve greatness. It suggests a part of the self that refuses to be earthbound, that pushes against limitations and seeks new heights, intellectually, emotionally, or spiritually.

Contrasting sharply, the hippopotamus represents indulgence in comfort, the longing for security, and perhaps a pleasurable surrender to inertia. Wallowing in the mud conveys not just a desire for rest, but a yearning for the sensuous immediacy of the moment, the reassurance of earthly pleasures, sanctuary, and contentment in simplicity. The hippo, massive and content in its environment, is untroubled by ambition, undisturbed by dreams of flight.

Sandburg’s metaphor captures an ambivalence familiar to anyone striving toward personal or creative fulfillment. Aspiration carries with it both risks and rewards: soaring requires exposure, vulnerability, and sometimes, pain. The eagle’s domain is exhilarating but lonely, the air thin and the winds harsh. It demands energy and sacrifice. The hippopotamus, conversely, shuns these dangers; it thrives in familiar, comfortable surroundings, undisturbed by the pressure of ambition or expectation.

Underlying these animal emblems is an acknowledgment that both forces coexist within the self. The tensions between striving and settling, between yearning and satisfaction, are not flaws but fundamental truths of the human experience. Sandburg voices the reality that growth and comfort are not mutually exclusive, but exist in continual negotiation. The eagle in him urges reach and transcendence, while the hippo is a reminder to rest, reflect, and find grounding. Together, they shape the rich, contradictory landscape of identity and desire.