'A Bird, Came Down the Walk' is a poetic masterpiece by Emily Dickinson, first published in 1891 after her passing. This poem delves into the themes of nature, using Dickinson's trademark rhyme scheme and meter to symbolize the duality of beauty and harshness in the natural world through the bird's actions.
It is believed that Dickinson wrote 'A Bird, Came Down the Walk' in 1862, during a time of personal tragedy marked by the deaths of her cousin, friend, and close companion, as well as her mother falling ill. As a result, Dickinson began to retreat from public life and spent more time at home. This poem was composed a year after another of Dickinson's works, 'Hope is the thing with feathers', which also explores the power and symbolism of birds in nature.
During the Second Great Awakening, a religious revival movement in America, Dickinson was heavily influenced by prevalent religious beliefs. Although she eventually rejected religion, its impact can still be seen in her poetry. Additionally, her writing is strongly influenced by the American Romantic movement, which celebrated nature, the universe, and individualism. Like other writers of the time such as Walt Whitman and Ralph Waldo Emerson, Dickinson used nature as a lens to explore the human mind and individuality. The Transcendentalist movement, which also emphasized the divinity of nature, further influenced her work, as evident in 'A Bird, Came Down the Walk'.
'A Bird, Came Down the Walk' highlights the delicate balance between beauty and brutality in nature through the speaker's encounter with the bird. This is reflected in both the form and content of the poem.
The structure of the poem does not follow a specific form, such as an ode or sonnet, but it bears similarities to a ballad. This is evident in its rhythm, rhyme scheme, and meter, which create a musical quality similar to that of a traditional ballad. The poem uses alternating rhymes and the iambic foot, commonly found in ballads meant to be sung.
Ballad: a short, narrative poem set to music.
The poem is composed of five quatrains, each with four lines. In the first stanza, the speaker observes the bird walking in front of her and eating half of a worm. The second stanza describes the bird drinking from a blade of grass and moving out of the way of a beetle. In the third stanza, the bird's physical attributes, such as its nervous eyes and movements, are described. The fourth stanza involves the speaker offering the bird a crumb, which startles it and causes it to fly away, allowing for a comparison of its wings to be made. The final stanza continues this comparison.
'A Bird, Came Down the Walk' by Emily Dickinson takes the reader on a journey through its depiction of a bird's graceful actions. The poet skillfully uses poetic devices to bring these movements to life and create vivid imagery for the reader.
The poem follows an ABCB rhyme scheme, with occasional slant rhymes to enhance its flow. For example, in the first stanza, 'Walk' and 'halves' do not rhyme, but 'saw' and 'raw' do. Similarly, in the final stanza, 'Ocean' and 'Noon' do not rhyme perfectly, but 'seam' and 'swim' are slant rhymes.
Slant rhymes, also known as half-rhymes, are words that do not have identical sounds but are used for their similar sounds.
Pro Tip: Reading the poem with the poet's accent can make it easier to notice the slant rhymes. Try rhyming 'feathers' and 'words' in an American accent!
The poem has a consistent rhythm with a mix of iambic trimeter and tetrameter. The first line of each stanza is written in iambic trimeter, with three iambic feet (an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable).
Emily Dickinson's 'A Bird, Came Down the Walk' is a perfect example of how the poet masterfully uses poetic devices to capture the beauty and power of nature. Through the use of dashes, caesuras, and enjambement, Dickinson brings to life the actions and movements of a bird in its natural habitat.
Fun Fact: Did you know that 'plashless' means 'without splashing'?
The first stanza of the poem consists of four iambic feet, while the second stanza has a rhythm of six and eight syllables, ending with the initial six-syllable structure. This mirrors the fluid movements of the bird, further emphasizing the connection between nature and poetry. Can you identify the meter in the second stanza?
Dickinson's use of dashes and caesuras creates pauses in the poem, mimicking the bird's actions and movements. In contrast, enjambement reflects the bird's fluid flight as it leaves. These devices not only add to the rhythm of the poem but also enhance the imagery and symbolism of nature at play.
Natural imagery is prevalent throughout the poem, showcasing the delicate balance between danger and harmony in nature. Through similes, the speaker compares the bird's actions to the graceful movements of oars and butterflies, creating a vivid and visual representation of the bird's mannerisms. This comparison further highlights the bird's beauty and elegance.
One of the most prominent poetic devices used in 'A Bird, Came Down the Walk' is alliteration, which adds to the musicality of the poem. In the first stanza, the harsh and abrupt sound of 'He bit an Angle Worm' emphasizes the brutality of the bird's actions. Later, the repetition of 'f' sounds adds tension to the bird's sudden departure.
Dickinson cleverly uses juxtaposition to highlight the dangers and fragility of nature. The bird, portrayed as a predator in the first stanza, becomes the prey in the third stanza when approached by the speaker. This contrast showcases the delicate balance and complexities of nature.
The speaker's fascination with the bird's behavior is evident throughout the poem, and this is reflected in the tone. The speaker observes the bird with a sense of admiration and curiosity, adding to the overall theme of connecting with nature.
The speaker in 'A Bird, Came Down the Walk' is solely focused on the bird, but the bird serves as a symbol for nature as a whole. Through personification, the bird comes to life, emphasizing the speaker's connection and empathy towards the animal. The mention of the bird's 'frightened eyes' shows the speaker's identification with the animal.
The central theme of the poem is the power and importance of nature. Through the use of poetic devices, Dickinson showcases the simultaneous conditions of danger and peacefulness that can exist in nature. 'A Bird, Came Down the Walk' reminds us to appreciate the complexities and beauty of nature, even amidst its sometimes brutal reality.
Published in 1891, "A Bird, Came Down the Walk" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem written by Emily Dickinson. The five-stanza poem explores the theme of nature and its duality of beauty and brutality, using literary devices such as alliteration, juxtaposition, and similes.
In this poem, the bird represents the delicate yet dynamic balance of nature. Through vivid descriptions and clever literary techniques, the speaker portrays the bird as both predator and prey, emphasizing the ever-changing nature of the world we live in.
One of the most notable literary devices used in this poem is the simile. Dickinson compares the bird's graceful movements to that of a ship, stating "Leap, plashless as they swim". Along with similes, the poet also employs alliteration, personification, and imagery to convey the beauty and power of nature.
Through the speaker's observations and interactions with the bird, we can see the constant shift in its behavior and role. The bird is depicted as both a hunter and a hunted, highlighting the complex and ever-changing relationship between humans and nature.
In "A Bird, Came Down the Walk", Dickinson uses similes and personification to bring the bird to life and to emphasize its significance as a symbol of nature. From its "frightened Beads" eyes to its graceful flight, the bird is portrayed as a living embodiment of the beauty and balance of the natural world.
As the speaker tries to offer the bird crumbs, we are reminded of the divide between humans and nature. Despite the attempt at interaction, the bird's instinctual flight showcases the vast difference between us and the natural world.
"A Bird, Came Down the Walk" is a poetic masterpiece that captures the essence of nature and its ever-changing nature. Through the use of literary devices, Dickinson brings the bird to life and portrays the beauty and balance of the natural world in a subtle and thought-provoking manner.
