Once by the Pacific

Auspex by Robert Frost (1962)

Like “Once by the Pacific,” “Auspex” is inspired by another of Frost’s childhood experiences in California. An eagle swooped down on the young boy; Frost ran to his parents for protection. Again, the speaker attributes potential cosmic significance to this mundane event: The eagle’s attack resembles the abduction of the Trojan prince Ganymede by the Greek god Zeus. While Frost’s tone is firmly tongue-in-cheek here—he playfully resents his parents’ unwillingness to see the dangerous potential of the encounter—the speaker’s skewed, childlike perception of events recalls “Once by the Pacific.”

The Discovery of the Pacific by Thomas Gunn (1970)

Thomas Gunn was a British poet who lived in California. This poem offers a stark contrast to “Once by the Pacific.” Here, the ocean is not menacing or apocalyptic; instead, two young lovers enjoy looking out on it at sunset, leaning up against the back of their car. They have driven to the West Coast from Kansas. Another pleasant oceanic image sees them standing in the water up their chins, embracing and enjoying the lapping of the waves.

Fire and Ice by Robert Frost (1923)

Like “Once by the Pacific,” “Fire and Ice” is an apocalyptic poem that envisions the end of the world.