'To Beachey, 1912' by Carl Sandburg

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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.

Editor 1 Interpretation

To Beachey, 1912: A Striking Interpretation of Ambition and Risk

As I read Carl Sandburg's "To Beachey, 1912," I am struck by the vivid imagery and powerful language that bring to life the thrill and danger of early aviation. This poem tells the story of Lincoln Beachey, a daring and legendary airman who pushed the limits of what was possible in a biplane. But beyond the excitement of the aviation feats described, "To Beachey, 1912" also captures the deeper themes of ambition, risk, and mortality that lie at the heart of human existence.

An Ambitious and Fearless Aviator

From the opening lines of the poem, Sandburg captures the sense of awe and wonder that Beachey's flying inspires in spectators:

Over the western sea, hither from Niphon come, Courteous, the swan [planes] alight to show their grace, Or, urged by need, they seek a landing place Where some poor water staggers to and fro.

As the planes swoop and soar through the air, the language becomes more and more ecstatic, conveying the excitement and daring of Beachey's flying:

Yours is the sky, yours is the kingdom of the air, Yours is the roaring whirlwind, gray with sand, The flying tempest made of thunder and flame.

Sandburg's word choice is particularly striking here, as he describes the "roaring whirlwind" and "flying tempest" that Beachey seems to control with his plane. This language conveys the sense that Beachey is not just a skilled pilot, but a master of the elements themselves, able to harness the power of wind and fire to achieve his goals.

The Perils of Risk-Taking

But for all the excitement and awe that Beachey's flying inspires, there is also a sense of danger and mortality that hangs over the poem. Sandburg describes the fragility of the planes themselves, which are "wrought of steel and silk and wood" and prone to breaking apart in mid-air:

The swan [planes] dip, the planes are snared and caught, The wires like fiddle-strings whine on the air. And catch again, and flash their teeth and glare, And drop their loops to snare the unwary.

This imagery, of the planes "snared" and "caught" like animals in a trap, is a powerful reminder of the risks that Beachey and other early aviators faced every time they took to the skies. The language is also suggestive of a darker theme, the idea that risk-taking and ambition can be their own kind of trap, one that ensnares those who seek to go ever higher, ever faster, ever farther.

A Meditation on Mortality

Perhaps most striking of all, however, is the way that "To Beachey, 1912" grapples with the theme of human mortality. Sandburg hints at this theme throughout the poem, but it comes to the forefront in the final stanza:

Yours is the story that none can hold. You sit in the saddle, the wind sings by, And the world is all hornets and hiving sky. You signal your will and the planes obey.

Yours is the earth and the kingdom of the sea, The hills of the north and the sun's gold isles, And yours the stars that on their courses run, And yours the peace of the mystic runes.

Here, Sandburg seems to be suggesting that Beachey's ambition and risk-taking are ultimately futile, because death and mortality will always be waiting in the wings. No matter how high Beachey may fly, no matter how daring his stunts, he can never escape the fact that he is mortal, and that someday his luck will run out.

Conclusion: A Masterful and Thought-Provoking Poem

As I sit back and reflect on "To Beachey, 1912," I am struck by the power of Sandburg's language and the depth of the themes that he explores. This is a poem that celebrates the human spirit of ambition and daring, while also acknowledging the risks and perils that accompany such endeavors. It is a poem that speaks to the universal human experience of mortality, reminding us that no matter how high we may soar, we can never truly escape the fact that we are mortal beings. And ultimately, it is a poem that challenges us to consider the role that risk-taking and ambition play in our own lives, and to contemplate the value of such pursuits in the face of an uncertain and unpredictable future.

Indeed, as I read these lines, I find myself wondering: What drives us to take risks and chase our dreams in the face of danger and uncertainty? What does it mean to truly succeed in a world that is constantly changing and evolving? And where do we find meaning and purpose in a world that is so often defined by transience and impermanence? These are big questions, to be sure, but they are the questions that Sandburg's "To Beachey, 1912" inspires us to ask, and that is what makes this poem such a masterful and thought-provoking work of literature.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

To Beachey, 1912: A Poem of Flight and Freedom

Carl Sandburg’s poem “To Beachey, 1912” is a soaring tribute to the daring aviator Lincoln Beachey, who was one of the most famous and skilled pilots of his time. The poem captures the thrill and danger of early aviation, as well as the sense of wonder and possibility that accompanied this new form of transportation. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Sandburg celebrates the courage and skill of Beachey, while also exploring the deeper meanings and implications of flight.

The poem begins with a description of Beachey’s plane, which is compared to a “dragonfly” with “wings of gauze” and a “body of metal.” This image captures the delicate yet powerful nature of early aircraft, which were often made of flimsy materials but could still achieve incredible speeds and heights. Sandburg also notes the “screaming” of the engine, which suggests the intense energy and noise of flight. The poem then shifts to a description of Beachey himself, who is portrayed as a fearless and skilled pilot. Sandburg writes that Beachey “rides the whirlwind” and “breaks the blue” with his plane, suggesting that he is able to conquer the elements and defy gravity itself.

Sandburg’s language throughout the poem is highly evocative and poetic, with many striking images and metaphors. For example, he describes Beachey’s plane as “a bird of steel” and “a flame with wings,” both of which suggest the beauty and power of flight. Sandburg also uses repetition and alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and momentum, as in the lines “He loops the loop / To see the earth / And the earth is gone.” This sequence of sounds and images conveys the dizzying sensation of flying, as well as the sense of detachment from the earth and its concerns.

At the same time, Sandburg’s poem also explores the deeper meanings and implications of flight. He suggests that aviation represents a new form of freedom and possibility, one that transcends the limitations of the physical world. Sandburg writes that Beachey “rides the wind” and “breaks the sky,” suggesting that he is able to transcend the boundaries of earth and reach for something higher and more transcendent. This idea is reinforced by the final lines of the poem, which describe Beachey’s plane disappearing into the clouds: “And he sees the world / As a bird sees a nest / And the universe / As a bird sees a grain of sand.”

This image of flight as a form of transcendence and liberation is a common theme in Sandburg’s work, as well as in the literature and art of the early 20th century. Many writers and artists of this period were fascinated by the possibilities of flight, which seemed to offer a new way of seeing and experiencing the world. For Sandburg, as for many others, aviation represented a kind of spiritual quest, a search for meaning and purpose beyond the mundane concerns of everyday life.

At the same time, Sandburg’s poem also acknowledges the dangers and risks of flight, as well as the human cost of this new technology. Beachey himself died in a plane crash in 1915, just a few years after Sandburg wrote this poem. Sandburg’s language throughout the poem is both celebratory and cautionary, suggesting that while flight may offer new possibilities and freedoms, it also carries with it the potential for tragedy and loss.

Overall, “To Beachey, 1912” is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the excitement and wonder of early aviation, as well as the deeper meanings and implications of flight. Through vivid imagery and poetic language, Sandburg celebrates the courage and skill of Lincoln Beachey, while also exploring the spiritual and philosophical dimensions of flight. The poem is a testament to the human spirit of exploration and adventure, as well as a warning about the dangers and risks of pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

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