Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO BEACHEY, 1912 by CARL SANDBURG

Poet Analysis

First Line: RIDING AGAINST THE EAST
Last Line: WITH THE COOL, CALM SHADOW AT THE WHEEL.
Subject(s): AVIATION & AVIATORS;
RIDING against the east,
A veering, steady shadow
Purrs the motor-call
Of the man-bird
Ready with the death-laughter
In his throat
And in his heart always
The love of the big blue beyond.

Only a man,
A far fleck of shadow on the east
Sitting at ease
With his hands on a wheel
And around him the large gray wings.
Hold him, great soft wings,
Keep and deal kindly, O wings,
With the cool, calm shadow at the wheel.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net