Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


AIRMAN by STEPHEN SPENDER

Poet Analysis

First Line: HE WILL WATCH THE HAWK WITH AN INDIFFERENT EYE
Last Line: HANDS, WINGS, ARE FOUND.
Subject(s): AIR FORCE - UNITED STATES; AVIATION & AVIATORS; BIRDS; HAWKS; WAR - CASUALTIES (STATISTICS, ETC.);

He will watch the hawk with an indifferent eye
Or pitifully;
Nor on those eagles that so feared him, now
Will strain his brow;
Weapons men use, stone, sling and strong-thewed bow
He will not know.

This artistocrat, superb of all instinct,
With death close-linked
Had paced the enormous cloud, almost had won
War on the sun;
Till now, like Icarus mid-ocean-drowned,
Hands, wings, are found.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net