a poem called "Icarus" :
His friend drudged in an aeroplane factory.
The theory of speed was their sweaty talk;
And one who reclaimed rust machinery
Swore men hereafter would not run or walk.
Another crowed, pointing to his watch: "Feet?
As sure as I'm staring at Time's own face
Our offspring shall be a limbless race,
Hopping in crystal ships from street to street."
Icarus went on working on his wings.
Really he despised their tame discussion;
He'd fly, but as a god towards the sun;
And rubbing the strong wax into the strings'
He leaped into the air-- to hear the chorus
Of dismayed cries: "You're bluffing, Icarus!"
by Eli Mandel
another poem is called "Icarus":
My father was always out in the garage
Building a shining wing, a wing
That curved and flew along the edge of the blue air
In that streamed and sunlit room
That smelled of oil and engines
And crankcase grease, and especially
The lemon smell of polish and cedar
Outside there were sharp rocks, and trees,
Cold air where birds fell like rocks
And scream, hawks, kites, and cranes.
The air was filled with a buzzing and flying
And the invisible hum of a bee's wings was honey
In my father's framed and engined mind.
Last Saturday we saw him at the horizon
Screaming like a hawk as he fell into the sun.
by Eli Mandel
the question is what are the similarities and/or differences in the two poems.
His friend drudged in an aeroplane factory.
The theory of speed was their sweaty talk;
And one who reclaimed rust machinery
Swore men hereafter would not run or walk.
Another crowed, pointing to his watch: "Feet?
As sure as I'm staring at Time's own face
Our offspring shall be a limbless race,
Hopping in crystal ships from street to street."
Icarus went on working on his wings.
Really he despised their tame discussion;
He'd fly, but as a god towards the sun;
And rubbing the strong wax into the strings'
He leaped into the air-- to hear the chorus
Of dismayed cries: "You're bluffing, Icarus!"
by Eli Mandel
another poem is called "Icarus":
My father was always out in the garage
Building a shining wing, a wing
That curved and flew along the edge of the blue air
In that streamed and sunlit room
That smelled of oil and engines
And crankcase grease, and especially
The lemon smell of polish and cedar
Outside there were sharp rocks, and trees,
Cold air where birds fell like rocks
And scream, hawks, kites, and cranes.
The air was filled with a buzzing and flying
And the invisible hum of a bee's wings was honey
In my father's framed and engined mind.
Last Saturday we saw him at the horizon
Screaming like a hawk as he fell into the sun.
by Eli Mandel
the question is what are the similarities and/or differences in the two poems.