Final answer:
The quotes from literary works describe different experiences of individuals utilizing small personal watercraft, illustrating serene and struggling interactions with water.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lines you've quoted are from two different literary works which each describe a journey on water, showcasing personal watercraft (PWC) in the form of a blue skiff and a piece of life-preserver. These crafts are typically small and fast, designed for individual use. The first quotation from Georg Trakl's poem "The Sun" paints a serene image of a fisherman moving smoothly in his boat, signifying a peaceful relationship between the man and his environment. The second excerpt describes a much more tedious experience by the correspondent in Stephen Crane's short story "The Open Boat," where the journey is long and the progression is slow, emphasizing the struggle and effort required to navigate waters.