Question

the fog comes
on little cat feet.

it sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

what is the structure of the poem?

a. sonnet
b. free verse
c. ode
d. sestina

Explanation:

Analyze the poem's formal characteristics

The poem is Carl Sandburg's "Fog":
"The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on."

It consists of six lines divided into two stanzas. It does not have a regular rhyme scheme, consistent metrical pattern, or fixed syllable count per line.

Evaluate the given options

• A. Sonnet: Requires 14 lines with a strict rhyme scheme and meter (typically iambic pentameter). This poem does not meet these criteria.
• B. Free verse: Poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter. This matches the structure of Sandburg's poem.
• C. Ode: A formal, often ceremonious lyric poem that addresses and celebrates a person, place, thing, or idea. While it describes fog, it lacks the formal structure, elevated tone, and length of a traditional ode.
• D. Sestina: A complex 39-line form with a specific pattern of repeating end-words. This poem does not follow this structure.

Determine the correct choice

The lack of regular meter and rhyme scheme confirms the structure is free verse.

Answer:

• (A) Sonnet
• (B) Free verse (Correct answer)
• (C) Ode
• (D) Sestina