The poet uses a variety of verbs and adjectives in this poem.
Both poets use figurative language quite effectively in their poems. One of the striking ironical statements in "Hawk Roosting" is, "My manners are tearing off heads". The use of the word manners here attempts to imply that his behavior was learnt, but he actually seems to be proud of the fact that he does not worry about what he eats, the way he violently rips up his prey, before consuming it. Throughout the poem, the hawk is personified. The poet chooses to personify the hawk to enable it to speak to us, to give a speech. An alliteration in the line, "Between my hooked head, and hooked feet", tells the reader to be on guard. "Hooked" gives us an image of power; that the hawk is able to hook anything that it wants. Symbolism too, is used by both poets. The two birds; "Hawk" and "Vulture", could be seen as symbols of heroism. The two become heroes when the take flight. Both prey catching birds; are strong, brave, noble and powerful. .
"The wood" which the hawk sits on could be seen as a representation of life and fertility; his life. High up in the tree, he is able to live freely. "The sun is behind .
me" suggests an image of the setting sun; a setting sun which portrays death; a death that will take place if he decides to get out of the tree. In "Vulture", the water in "the ocean" and the "sea light" over the precipice could represent life and fertility; the life of the man, who in his mind, thinks he's going to die. But the flow of the ocean water does not allow him "to be eaten by that beak and become part of him".
The tone in both poems is very effective in bringing out the issue of power versus weakness. In "Hawk Roosting" the poet speaks in the first person throughout; sort of from the point of view of the hawk. The first word in the poem; "I", is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizes the hawk's proud attitude. The deliberate references to himself helps make the poem more immediate and powerful.