In Carl Sandburg ’s poem the speaker makes a bold and unusual request to the "gods". Instead of asking for wealth or fame, they ask for hardship and suffering—provided they are left with "a little love" to break their loneliness. This powerful exploration of human resilience and the necessity of connection is a staple of CommonLit’s curriculum. CommonLit Assessment Answers
Give me hunger, O you gods that sit and give The world its orders. Give me hunger, pain and want, Shut me out with shame and failure From your doors of gold and fame; Give me your shabbiest, weariest hunger! at a window by carl sandburg commonlit answer key