"Fog" by Carl Sandburg

Question

The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
"Life" by Naomi Long Madgett
Life is but a toy that swings on a bright gold chain
Ticking for a little while
To amuse a fascinated infant,
Until the keeper, a very old man,
Becomes tired of the game
And lets the watch run down.
Choose the statement that best compares the meaning of these poems.
1. People are like infants amused by toys.
2. Life is short, so live while you can.
3. Time is only a shiny distraction.
4. Things of this world are fleeting.

Answer 1

The statement that best compares the meaning of these poems is:

4. Things of this world are fleeting.

Both poems convey a sense of transience: the fog in Sandburg's poem represents a temporary presence that quietly moves on, while Madgett's poem uses the metaphor of a toy to illustrate the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of time passing.