Comparing 'Storm on the Island' and 'Patrolling Barnegat'

... Comparing 'Storm on the Island' and 'Patrolling Barnegat' 'Storm on the Island' by Seamus Heaney and 'Patrolling Barnegat' by Walt Whitman are similar in a number of ways however, there are also strong contrasts. Possibly the most apparent comparison is the subject matter. Both poems are written from a personal viewpoint about a storm. Heaney describes the storm from inside a building for which he is prepared for, "We build our houses squat" The impression is given that the storm according to Heaney is not a rare occurrence and that he is writing about many similar storms. The title uses no article and writes in the present tense. Whitman however, speaks as if he is in fact within the storm, almost participating. The reader becomes aware of this as Whitman poses questions "is that a wreck?" readers can then understand that the poet is experiencing the incident he is describing.

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