The story is about a young seagull who is afraid to fly. While his siblings have already mastered flight, he remains terrified on his ledge, fearing his wings won't support him. Left alone without food for twenty-four hours, he watches his family fly and dive. Driven by hunger, he is tempted by his mother holding a piece of fish. As he dives for the food, he falls into space, but instinctively spreads his wings and begins to soar, overcoming his fear and completing his first flight.
The narrator is flying his old Dakota aeroplane from France to England, dreaming of a holiday with his family. Suddenly, he encounters massive storm clouds resembling black mountains. Driven by the desire to reach home, he takes the risk and flies directly into the storm. Inside, his compass, radio, and other instruments fail completely. Lost and helpless, he spots a mysterious black aeroplane with no lights. The pilot of this phantom plane guides him safely through the storm to a runway. When the narrator tries to thank his savior, he discovers from the control tower lady that no other planes were in the sky that night.
A humorous poem by Carolyn Wells that suggests dangerous and highly impractical ways to identify wild beasts. The tone is light-hearted, playful, and ironic.
Written by John Berryman, this poem explores the grief of a young boy who loses his ball in the water. It serves as a metaphor for the inevitable losses we experience in life and the necessity of learning to stand up and move on.