Hawk Roosting : Poem Anthology

“I sit at the top..”

“Of the wood, my eyes closed.”

Personal pronoun used to show his power, he is expressing his dominance

Establishing his position as the superlative

He sees himself as the superior being as within his world, he is

Being at the top represents his position in the food chain

A critique of people who hold power and see themselves as superior

“The Earths face..”

“Upward for my inspection”

The hawk can be seen as arrogant and egotistical

He refers to the world as if it was put there for him and his approval

He links back to his aggressive and violent nature, the world aids his killings

Personification of the Earths face as if the world needs to be given approval by the hawk

Upward positions the hawk as higher than the Earth - he is the omnipresent

“I hold creation in my foot..”

“Or fly up, and revolve it all slowly.”

The hawk believes he is the superior being

Refers to himself as clutching being as a Godlike character

Delusions of grandeur

Use of personal pronouns show his arrogant nature

The hawk believes it can kill when it pleases

Critique of those in power who see themselves as Godly beings

“My manners are tearing..”

“Off heads - the allotment of death”

The hawk does not try to hide his violent nature

He is proud of it

Imagery becomes increasingly bloody and violent

The hawk sees himself as the ultimate authority

He decides who lives and who dies

He looks down upon what he sees as a graveyard he has created

However, the hawk is naturally violent unlike humans (critique)

“Bones of the living..”

“No arguments assert my right.”

Juxtaposition of ‘bones’ and ‘living’

Shows the hawks potential to take away life quickly

The lack of arguments show his dictatorship

The hawk is feared and known for his violence

No one else can dare to speak up to him

“My eye has permitted no change…“

“I am going to keep things like this.”

Use of full stops and short sentences

Used to emphasise the authority of the hawk

He has stopped any arguments before it began, he is exercising his authority

The hawk makes his control and accessercion of power clear

He will not let anyone question him and his reign over the forest

He will always be at the top of the food chain

The hawk is in charge and decides the rule of nature

He ends the poem with a greater tone of arrogance, highlighting how he will remain in control