I stepped from plank to plank
So slow and cautiously;
The stars about my head I felt,
About my feet the sea.
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For teachers who would like to teach this poem, it is important that you ask abut the speaker, making inferences of his/her personality, dispositions and inclinations. The speaker here is a person who adores challenges, brave enough to risk although he/she has no clue what is behind the corner. This speaker looks like the mother in 'Mother to Son' By langston Hughes. Both introduce a fearless person who doesn't hesitate to explore the hidden and learn a valuable lesson to use in the future. The speaker is also optimistic as he/she shows a positive outlook to life and its barriers.
I respect the the very first two lines...