SKIRTING the river road, (my forenoon walk, my rest,)…
““SKIRTING the river road, (my forenoon walk, my rest,) Skyward in air a sudden muffled sound, the dalliance of the eagles, The rushing amorous contact high in space together, The clinching interlocking claws, a living, fierce, gyrating wheel, Four beating wings, two beaks, a swirling mass tight grappling, 5 In tumbling turning clustering loops, straight downward falling, Till o’er the river pois’d, the twain yet one, a moment’s lull, A motionless still balance in the air, then parting, talons loosing, Upward again on slow-firm pinions slanting, their separate diverse flight, She hers, he his, pursuing.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poem celebrates the fierce, intertwined dance of eagles in flight, symbolizing unity, struggle, and the beauty of dynamic balance.
In simple terms: Eagles' flight shows unity and struggle together.
Embrace dynamic balance in conflict.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- birdwatching
- team sports
- creative collaboration
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you find balance in opposing forces?
- What does the eagle symbolize for you?
May idealize conflict, ignoring its costs.