Need help with analyzing a poem...

**single** · 04-17-2007, 05:24 PM

Kind of an odd request...

I am reading a poem for an english paper, and have no idea what the phrase "eagle-armed" means.

here is the context

Often Indians are standing eagle-armed on hills

thanks for any help, I have been searching google for some time and cant find anything.

single

**soul_skier** · 04-17-2007, 05:31 PM

just a guess, standing with their arms wide out like the wings of an eagle in flight

**Steven S. Dallas** · 04-17-2007, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by soul_skier

just a guess, standing with their arms wide out like the wings of an eagle in flight

Seeing as the next line is

In the sunrise open wide to the
Great Spirit

I'm going to agree with soul_skier.

**Art Shirk** · 04-17-2007, 05:51 PM

I would be surprised if your "assignment" was to find a literal translation for that phrase. What the hell do YOU think it means in relation to the context?

But to take the less artistic path, yeah, these guys are probably right.

**single** · 04-17-2007, 05:55 PM

Ah-Hah.
Thanks.

**Steven S. Dallas** · 04-17-2007, 06:03 PM

Well, OK. Here's the opening to James Dickey's Adultery:

We have all been in rooms
We cannot die in, and they are
odd places, and sad.
Often Indians are standing
eagle-armed on hills
In the sunrise open wide to the
Great Spirit
Or gliding in canoes or cattle
are browsing on the walls
Far away gazing down with the
eyes of our children
Not far away or there are
men driving
The last railspike, which has
turned
Gold in their hands.

"Die" here would seem to mean having sex- in French, an orgasm is called "Le petit mort" (the little death). So it's a room where you can't get it on, for some reason. Then the thing about Indians. Wallpaper? Pictures? Then the thing about the eyes of our children. I think he's saying that you can't cheat on your wife in your kid's bedroom, which makes a lot of sense to me. It's just not a sexy environment- ask your dad and his second wife.

**komo** · 04-17-2007, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Steven S. Dallas

Well, OK. Here's the opening to James Dickey's Adultery:

"Die" here would seem to mean having sex- in French, an orgasm is called "Le petit mort" (the little death). So it's a room where you can't get it on, for some reason. Then the thing about Indians. Wallpaper? Pictures? Then the thing about the eyes of our children. I think he's saying that you can't cheat on your wife in your kid's bedroom, which makes a lot of sense to me. It's just not a sexy environment- ask your dad and his second wife.

awesome.