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Rod Mckuen Thoughts On Capital Punishment

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Rod Mckuen Thoughts On Capital Punishment
“Thoughts on Capital Punishment” vs. “Traveling through the Dark”

William Strafford’s “Traveling through the Dark” is a well developed short poem, but it lacks the depth of Rod Mckuen’s “Thoughts on Capital Punishment.” These two poems present animals killed by automobiles, but Mckuen’s approach differs from Strafford’s in two ways. First, Mckuen uses poetic language more strongly than Strafford. Second, “Thoughts on Capital Punishment” points out a more distinct, clearly stated, complex theme. In comparing language of the two poems, “Thoughts on Capital Punishment” gives a wider, more descriptive choice of words and phrases open to ideas. The language of “Traveling through the Dark” seems almost thinner by comparison. Mckuen’s
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