NCERT · Class 10 · English · Poetry: FogExplain the significance of the phrase 'on silent haunches' in the poem 'Fog'.

The phrase 'on silent haunches' in Carl Sandburg's poem 'Fog' refers to the posture of a cat sitting quietly on its rear legs, observing its surroundings. In the context of the poem, this phrase is used to describe how the fog settles over the harbor and the city. Just as a cat sits motionless and alert, the fog pauses in its movement, hanging over the urban landscape in a calm and observant manner. This expression successfully personifies the fog, giving it a living form and a sense of deliberate action. It indicates a temporary moment of stillness where the fog dominates the skyline, overlooking everything silently before eventually dissipating and moving on.