Famous American editor and poet Carl Sandburg won three Pulitzer Prizes and often wrote about the city of Chicago. In his shortest poem, "Fog", he explores the nature of fog, which is usually seen in cold regions but here covers cities and ports. Sandberg cleverly compares the arrival of fog to that of a cat, describing how it silently engulfs everything, causing temporary discomfort but remaining oblivious.
The poet depicts the fog sitting at the port and silently observing the city before finally moving on. Despite its calming appearance, fog can be dangerous in urban areas, leading to accidents due to reduced visibility. Sandberg compared the fog's calming presence to the presence of a small, silent kitten appreciating the beauty of the city landscape it covers.
Finally, the poet suggests that, just as a child gets bored of playing, the fog does not stay in one place for long. It continues by emphasizing the ephemeral nature of the fog and how it, like a playful child, never stays in one place for long.