The poets comparison between a jetliner and an athlete is very descriptive. When reading the poem a reader could imagine a jet on the runway preparing to take off just as easily as they could imagine an athlete preparing for hisher pole vault event. The poet uses very descriptive that appeal to our imagination. Words such as "dashes" and phrases such as "dashes like mad" gives a reader a feeling of intensity. The action that is taking place, occurs with great effort and determination, which we can tell by the words in line 8 in the third stanza, for example "shouting", "roaring". The poets choice of words make this poem intense, interesting and descriptive.
             In stanza 1 we can imagine, with ease, a jet striding to the end of the runway, yet we can also visualize a determined runner at his starting point preparing to run.
             Stanza 2 paints two pictures, one picture is of a jet at a stand still readying its engine for take off."expaninding his massive chest", this could illustrate the wings of the jetliner being tested therefore swinging in and out the same way an athlete breathes in and out.
             The other picture that is formed in the mind of a reader is that of an athlete preparing at a starting line for a race. The picture describes an athlete in anticipation of his race.
             Stanza 3 illustrates the powerful and dramatic start of a race. It breaks down the actions of the athlete
             " he roars at his utmost" ; "slowly begins to jog".
             The rest of the stanza continues to describe the athletes actions clearly . In contrast to the athlete this stanza describes the force of a jetliner speeding along a runway for take off. " kicking the dark earth hard" we can say that this line describes the wheels on the jetliner racing across the runway before flight is achieved.
             The last stanza describes execution of flight for the athlet
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