07S53

We feel that “The Convergence of the Twain” is the better of the two poems because it paints a more vivid picture of the actual sinking of titanic. The words used in the poem are more effective in expressing the message of the poet. The second poem is comparatively shallower because it explicitly states the poet's message, leaving little room for readers' response to the poem. The poet achieves this effect by merely describing the chain of events without much use of any metaphors, or literary devices for that matter. This reduces the impact of the poem. This lack of impact is also due to the prose-like form of the poem. This, results in the poem losing the forcefulness in which it conveys its message as the images presented are no longer compacted with the use of concise diction, and delivered with one forceful go. On the other hand, the use of le mot juste, pertinent in “The Convergence of the Twain”, allows room for interpretation on the reader’s part. The rich meaning of the poem is not bluntly put across but the poet allows the reader to slowly collect and form the grand image in his or her mind with very appropriate use of words. The idea of suspense is also present in the poem, through the gradual input of imagery. The rhyme scheme is also very appropriate, such that the rhyme scheme enhances the emotions evoked at the stanza. For instance, the half rhyme used at stanza 8 adds to the atmosphere of the looming Iceberg, suggest that a catastrophe is about to occur. The full rhyme used later when the Titanic sinks also gives a closure to the event, such that there is no way of reversing what has happened. The archaic diction of the poem seems to suggest the idea of timelessness, presenting the notion of fate. Perhaps then, this refers to how pride, no matter which era of time, would also be brought down. The idea of timelessness is also present throughout the poem such that certain stanzas of the poem are presented as a flashback. Such in depth notions apparent in the first poems are certainly not present in the second one. “Twain” may appear a little overly adorned with grandiloquent phrases but it does not come across as exaggerated but rather, brings out the magnificence of the ship itself and also the drama of the incident itself. On the other hand the “Salute” is monotonous and mechanical, making the poem rather dry and at the end of the poem, it barely succeeds in evoking respect and like feelings in the reader for the ‘servicewomen’ even though that is most probably what the poet set out to accomplish.