The Flying Wonder by Stephen Vincent Benet

The Flying Wonder

"Said Orville Wright to Wilbur Wright,
"These birds are very trying.
I'm sick of hearing them cheep-cheep
About the fun of flying.
A bird has feathers, it is true.
That much I freely grant.
But must that stop us, W?"
Said Wilbur Wright,"It shan't."
And so they built a glider, first,
And then they built another.
-There never were two brothers more
Devoted to each other.
They ran a dusty little shop
For bicycle repairing.
And bought each other soda-pop
And praised each other's daring.
They glided here, they glided there,
They sometimes skinned their noses.
-For learning how to rule the air
Was not a bed of roses-
But each would murmur, afterward,
While patching up his bro.
"Are we discouraged, W?"
Of course we are not, O!"
And finally, at Kitty Hawk
In Nineteen-Three (let's cheer it!),
The first real aeroplane really flew
With Orville there to steer it!
-And kingdoms may forget their kings
And dogs forget their bites,
But not till Man forgets his wings,
Will men forget the Wrights.

-Stephen Vincent Benet

Explanation

The poem "The Flying Wonder" is written by Stephen Vincent Benet.The poem talks about the flying wonder of the aeroplane. The aeroplane was invented by Orville Wright and Willbur Wright. They were initially inspired by the birds which flew freely across the blue sky and they wondered about the fun of flying. They were the humble owners of a bicycle repairing shop but nothing could deter their attempts to build a glider- their first invention.

In their attempt to build a glider they often met with obstacles and defeats. Yet they never gave up hope. They also learnt the lesson that ruling the air was not a bed of roses- not an easy task. The brothers were devoted to each other and they patted each other's shoulders despite bleak and hopeless moments.

After making an attempt the brothers finally succeeded in building an aeroplane. They saw their cherished dream came true when Orville steered the aeroplane across the blue expanse of the sky.

The poet concludes that the names of Orville and Wilbur Wright are etched in the annals of history of man's inventions for the benefit of humanity. The aeroplane has become the most essential transport which has brought the continents nearer. Man is able to save time and energy due to this marvellous machine. The poet picturesquely says that:

" ...Kingdoms may forget their kings
And dogs forget their bites"

but man will never forget the Wright brothers as the 'Winged Wonder', the aeroplane roars across the sky.

"Said Orville Wright to Wilbur Wright,
"These birds are very trying.
I'm sick of hearing them cheep-cheep
About the fun of flying.

Orville Wright says to his brother Wilbur Wright that he is sick of hearing them talking about the fun of flying(The birds motivated the brothers to fly).

A bird has feathers, it is true.
That much I freely grant.

Orville continues to say that birds fly because they have feathers and it cannot be denied.

But must that stop us, W?"
Said Wilbur Wright,"It shan't."

Orville asks Willbur if it should stop them from trying to fly and Wilbur says they shall not.

And so they built a glider, first,
And then they built another.

So they built a glider, and then they built another.

There never were two brothers more
Devoted to each other.

These two brothers were very devoted to each other and they were without equal.

They ran a dusty little shop
For bicycle repairing.
And bought each other soda-pop
And praised each other's daring.

They ran a bicycle-repairing shop for their living and lived frugally and economically and patted each other for their daring.

They glided here, they glided there,
They sometimes skinned their noses.

They tried gliding in various places and sometimes met with accidents and failures. They got hurt too!

-For learning how to rule the air
Was not a bed of roses-

It is because to fly in the air was not an easy task to acheive.

But each would murmur, afterward,
While patching up his bro.
"Are we discouraged, W?"
Of course we are not, O!"

After each accident or mishap one brother would murmur to the other while tending to his bruises whether they were discouarged. And the other would reply strongly that they were not.

And finally, at Kitty Hawk
In Nineteen-Three (let's cheer it!),
The first real aeroplane really flew
With Orville there to steer it!

At last in 1903, at Kitty-Hawk, the brothers flew a real plane, with Orville steering the plane.

-And kingdoms may forget their kings
And dogs forget their bites,
But not till Man forgets his wings,
Will men forget the Wrights.

Kingdoms may forget their kings, and dogs may forget to bite, the Wrights will never be forgetten as long as Man is able to fly in the sky.

Kitty Hawk - Name of a place in America
W - Wilbur
O - Orville

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