Question

Who among the gathering
was an opportunist? How can you say so?
poem: the cold within
poet:James Patrick Kinney

Answer 1

The sixth and the last man in the gathering was an opportunist. As the poet puts it —

The last man of this forlorn group
Did nought except for gain.
Giving only to those who gave
Was how he played the game.

Though this man apparently had no prejudice against anyone, he did not give anything without making a gain for himself. His motto was to give something only in return of something. That is why he did not share his wood. So, evidently, he was an opportunist.

Answer 2

An opportunist is a person who seeks opportunity for his own advantage in any situation and in any circumstance.

So, in James Patrick Kinney's poem "The Cold Within", the last man of "the forlorn group" was an opportunist. This is because he only wanted to deal with them who gave him something in return for his stick.

He was a man who would grab any opportunity to keep himself warm. He wanted nothing with anyone who would not help him.