Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Eagle Plain BY ROBERT FRANCIS

The American eagle is not aware he is
the American eagle. He is never tempted
to look modest.

When orators advertise the American eagle’s
virtues, the American eagle is not listening.
This is his virtue.

He is somewhere else, he is mountains away
but even if he were near he would never
make an audience.

The American eagle never says he will serve
if drafted, will dutifully serve etc. He is
not at our service.

If we have honored him we have honored one
who unequivocally honors himself by
overlooking us.

He does not know the meaning of magnificent.
Perhaps we do not altogether either
who cannot touch him.

3 comments:

  1. This poem talks about the deisregard of the American Eagle toward its significance. In a way, it represents every American soldier because, they just do, as nature intended.

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  2. this poem was amazing and i love the more literal part of the poem. the eagle wasnt told that everyone in america and the world look up to it and is very much oblivious to it and just goes about its life as an eagle. bears know their roles in society and its to protect forests (smokey bear, yogi bear ect.) but the eagle was never told and thus doesnt really go out of its way to represent america in pride and spirit

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  3. I really like this poem because it is a parody in a way or one of the major symbols of America. Though we never think of the American Eagle in this sense, we really should because after all it is just a normal bird who lives its life accordingly. It makes us realize that maybe sometimes we put too much care and attention into symbols that really are just worthy because we believe in them. Otherwise, the eagle is just a bird, the flag is just a piece of cloth, and America is just a name.

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