“Swallows” by Leonora Speyer
They dip their wings in the sunset,
They dash against the air
As if to break themselves upon its stillness:
In every movement, too swift to count,
Is a revelry of indecision,
A furtive delight in trees they do not desire
And in grasses that shall not know their weight.
They hover and lean toward the meadow
With little edged cries;
And then,
As if frightened at the earth’s nearness,
They seek the high austerity of evening sky
And swirl into its depth.
“LXV [Once, I knew a fine song]” by Stephen Crane
Once, I knew a fine song,
—It is true, believe me,—
It was all of birds,
And I held them in a basket;
When I opened the wicket,
Heavens! They all flew away.
I cried, “Come back, little thoughts!”
But they only laughed.
They flew on
Until they were as sand
Thrown between me and the sky.
How do the themes in the two poems differ? (1 point)
Responses
One theme in "Swallows" is the creation of joy, while a theme in "LXV" is the loss of that same type of joy.
One theme in "Swallows" is the necessity of movement, while a theme in "LXV" is the necessity of limitations.
One theme in "Swallows" is the importance of the spectator, while a theme in "LXV" is the importance of the subject.
One theme in "Swallows" is the beauty of freedom, while a theme in "LXV" is the loss felt when witnessing that freedom.
One theme in "Swallows" is the power of the creative spirit, while a theme in "LXV" is the necessary constraints on creativity.
1 answer