Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"By the Road to the Sunnyvale Air-Base" is a poem by Yvor Winters, published in 1942.

Explanation: 

The poem describes the scene of a man driving his car along the road to the Sunnyvale Air-Base, where planes take off and land. As the man drives, he sees the planes "vanishing into the sky," and he reflects on the dangers and violence of war. He thinks of the young men who fly these planes, risking their lives in combat, and he considers the impact of war on the world and on human civilization.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem consists of four quatrains with a rhyme scheme of ABAB.
• Imagery: The poem uses vivid imagery to depict the planes taking off and the man's thoughts on war and its consequences.
• Alliteration: The poem contains several instances of alliteration, such as "whitely wheeling" and "softly seen."
• Tone: The tone of the poem is reflective and contemplative, conveying the speaker's serious thoughts on the realities of war.

Conclusion: 

"By the Road to the Sunnyvale Air-Base" is a poignant reflection on the impact of war on individuals and society as a whole. Through vivid imagery and contemplative tone, the poem conveys the sense of loss and tragedy that comes with the destruction and violence of war.

Poem Snippet:

"Whitely wheeling, skimming,

Softly seen,

Vanishing into the sky,

The planes,

Our boys,

Whose dying, every one,

Means to undo us, and to spoil

Our world, our hopes."

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