I’ve never sailed a boat; I’ve never flown a plane;
And yet I feel the thrills of both
Swirling in my brain.
To ride the ocean’s waves,
And smell the salty air,
And watch a pod of dolphins play,
With no one else there.
To soar through billowing clouds,
And hear the engine’s drone,
And gaze down on the towns below,
So happy I’m alone.
—Anonymous
1. What does stanza 1 tell you literally about the speaker?
2. How do stanzas 2 and 3 relate to the first two lines of stanza 1?
3. Explain why one implicit theme of the poem might be “the spirit of adventure.”
4. Now, think about the title and the last lines of stanzas 2 and 3. What other theme might they suggest? (What else might the speaker be implying?)
5. Briefly state the two implicit themes of the poem that you have now worked out