'Poet And The Bird, The' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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Said a people to a poet---" Go out from among us straightway!
While we are thinking earthly things, thou singest of divine.
There's a little fair brown nightingale, who, sitting in the gateways
Makes fitter music to our ears than any song of thine!"
The poet went out weeping---the nightingale ceased chanting;
"Now, wherefore, O thou nightingale, is all thy sweetness done?"
I cannot sing my earthly things, the heavenly poet wanting,
Whose highest harmony includes the lowest under sun."
The poet went out weeping,---and died abroad, bereft there---
The bird flew to his grave and died, amid a thousand wails:---
And, when I last came by the place, I swear the music left there
Was only of the poet's song, and not the nightingale's.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Poetry, Poet And The Bird, The" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning: A Masterpiece of Introspection and Emotion
Elizabeth Barrett Browning is known for her deeply introspective and emotional poetry, and "Poetry, Poet And The Bird, The" is no exception. In this poem, Browning explores the relationship between a poet and his or her muse, represented by a bird. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, she captures the essence of artistic inspiration and the struggle to harness it.
The Poet's Struggle
The poem opens with the line "The poet hath the bird," which immediately establishes the metaphorical relationship between the poet and the bird. But while the poet may have the bird, he or she struggles to control it:
And what to sing?--what sweet refrain
Shall make the hearer's fancy glad,
When piping in the summer lane
Through leaves of rustling birch he had
That goldfinch and his madrigale?
In this passage, Browning highlights the poet's dilemma: he or she wants to create something beautiful and inspiring, but doesn't know where to begin. The goldfinch's song in the summer lane is a perfect example of natural beauty and artistry, but how can the poet capture that in words?
The Power of Poetry
As the poem continues, Browning emphasizes the power of poetry to transform and uplift the soul. She writes:
And what to sing?--what breathing word
To suit the passion and the time,
When hearts from out Love's bondage leap,
Or when love dies, or when in prime
Of youth sweet roses fade and sleep?
Here, Browning suggests that poetry has the power to capture and convey the full range of human emotion, from the heights of love and joy to the depths of sorrow and loss. By using "breathing word" to describe the poet's task, she emphasizes the life-giving power of language and the importance of choosing the right words to convey a particular emotion or experience.
The Bird as Muse
At the heart of the poem is the relationship between the poet and the bird, which represents the muse that inspires the poet's work. Browning writes:
The poet hath the bird--
Ah, what to do with that soft throat
Which thrill'd to the Aegean? what,
With that keen eye which look'd remote
On visions which the poet--
Not always--in his heart doth keep?
Here, Browning captures the essence of the poet's relationship with the muse: the bird's song and keen eye are sources of inspiration for the poet, but they are also elusive and difficult to capture. The poet must learn to listen to and observe the bird, but must also be able to translate that experience into words that others can understand and appreciate.
The Importance of Imagery
Throughout the poem, Browning makes use of vivid and evocative imagery to convey the poet's struggle and the power of poetry. For example, she writes:
When piping in the summer lane
Through leaves of rustling birch he had
That goldfinch and his madrigale?
This passage not only captures the beauty of the goldfinch's song, but also the sound of the leaves rustling in the breeze. By using specific and sensory details, Browning invites the reader to imagine the scene and experience it for themselves.
Conclusion
"Poetry, Poet And The Bird, The" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of the poet's struggle with inspiration and the power of poetry to transform and uplift the soul. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Elizabeth Barrett Browning invites the reader to experience the beauty and complexity of artistic expression, and to reflect on the role of the poet as both observer and creator of the world around us.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Poetry Poet and the Bird: A Masterpiece by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, one of the most celebrated poets of the Victorian era, is known for her exceptional works that explore themes of love, spirituality, and social justice. Her poem, "The Poetry Poet and the Bird," is a classic example of her poetic prowess and her ability to convey complex emotions through simple yet powerful imagery.
The poem tells the story of a poet who is visited by a bird while he is writing. The bird, with its sweet song, inspires the poet to write a beautiful poem. However, as soon as the poem is finished, the bird flies away, leaving the poet feeling empty and alone. The poem is a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of inspiration and the loneliness that often accompanies the creative process.
The poem begins with the poet describing the bird's arrival:
"A poet was sitting alone in his room, With a pen in his hand and a heart full of gloom, When a bird flew in at the window wide, And perched on the sill with a gentle glide."
The bird's arrival is unexpected, and the poet is initially surprised by its presence. However, as the bird begins to sing, the poet is filled with a sense of wonder and inspiration:
"The bird began to sing a sweet song, And the poet listened all day long, As the words flowed from his pen with ease, And the lines formed into a masterpiece."
The bird's song is described as "sweet" and "gentle," and it is clear that the poet is deeply moved by it. The poem suggests that the bird's song is a metaphor for inspiration, which can come unexpectedly and transform the creative process.
However, as soon as the poem is finished, the bird flies away, leaving the poet feeling empty and alone:
"But as soon as the poem was done, The bird flew away, and the poet was alone, With nothing but the memory of the bird's sweet song, And the emptiness that followed when it was gone."
The poem suggests that inspiration is fleeting and that the creative process can be a lonely one. The poet is left with nothing but the memory of the bird's song, which serves as a reminder of the beauty and transience of inspiration.
The poem's use of imagery is particularly striking. The bird is described as "gentle" and "sweet," which creates a sense of warmth and comfort. The poet's room, on the other hand, is described as "gloomy," which creates a sense of isolation and loneliness. The contrast between the two images highlights the transformative power of inspiration and the sense of loss that comes when it is gone.
The poem's structure is also noteworthy. It is written in quatrains, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which creates a sense of symmetry and balance. The use of rhyme also adds to the poem's musicality, which mirrors the bird's song.
Overall, "The Poetry Poet and the Bird" is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the nature of inspiration and the creative process. Elizabeth Barrett Browning's use of imagery and structure creates a sense of beauty and balance, while the poem's message is both powerful and universal. It is a true masterpiece of Victorian poetry and a testament to Browning's exceptional talent as a poet.
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