The Eagle

(2) Sea Level

Fortunately, this poem isn't nearly as high up the Mountain of Toughness as the eagle is up its own craggy mountain. "The Eagle" is the perfect poem to begin an exploration of poetry. It's almost too perfect, in the sense that we wouldn't want you to expect every poem to be so orderly, straightforward, and, yes, short. Once you figure out your own personal way of pronouncing the word "azure," you can devote your energies to visualizing the poem's breathtaking imagery.