To The Skylark
by William Wordsworth
Ethereal Minstrel! pilgrim of the sky!
Dost thou despise the earth where cares abound?
Or while the wings aspire, are heart and eye
Both with thy nest upon the dewy ground?
Thy nest which thou canst drop into at will,
Those quivering wings composed, that music still!
To the last point of vision, and beyond,
Mount, daring warbler!—that love-prompted strain
—'Twixt thee and thine a never-failing bond—
Thrills not the less the bosom of the plain:
Yet might'st thou seem, proud privilege! to sing
All independent of the leafy Spring.
Leave to the nightingale her shady wood;
A privacy of glorious light is thine;
Whence thou dost pour upon the world a flood
Of harmony, with instinct more divine;
Type of the wise, who soar, but never roam—
True to the kindred points of Heaven and Home!
Introduction
"To the Skylark" by William Wordsworth is a poetic tribute to the skylark, a bird renowned for its melodious song and soaring flights. The poem was composed and published in 1827, five years after Percy Bysshe Shelley's "To a Skylark".
In this poem, Wordsworth explores the symbolic significance of the skylark's presence in nature, reflecting on its connection to both earthly and heavenly realms.
The central theme of "To the Skylark" by William Wordsworth is the celebration of nature's beauty and the awe-inspiring qualities of the skylark. It explores the bird's ability to uplift the human spirit through its melodious song and soaring flight.
The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABABCC, where the first four lines of each stanza follow an alternating rhyme pattern, and the last two lines rhyme with each other.
Summary
William wordsworth describes the skylark as an unearthly bird who takes a pilgrimage in the sky. He wonders if the skylark dislikes the earth because it's full of worries. However, the poet believes the skylark doesn't hate the earth because it can return whenever it wants. Wordsworth praises the skylark as a fearless singer who sings devotionally without fear. The skylark's song, inspired by God's love, fills both the sky and the earth.
Despite its heavenly inspiration, the skylark never forgets its ties to the earth. It has the special ability to sing in any season independently. The poet suggests the skylark should let the nightingale sing in spring and instead pour heavenly songs onto the earth from the sky. Lastly, the poet sees the skylark as wise, balancing thoughts of divine things with earthly connections.
Explanation
Stanza 1
Ethereal Minstrel! pilgrim of the sky!
Dost thou despise the earth where cares abound?
Or while the wings aspire, are heart and eye
Both with thy nest upon the dewy ground?
Thy nest which thou canst drop into at will,
Those quivering wings composed, that music still!
GLOSSARY
Ethereal - unearthly
Minstrel - singer
pilgrim - one who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons
dost - do
thou - you
despise - hate
cares- sufferings
abound- to be plentiful
aspire- to rise
thy- your
quivering- shaking
In the opening stanza of the poem "To the Skylark" by William Wordsworth, the poet begins by addressing the skylark as an "Ethereal Minstrel" and a "pilgrim of the sky," using poetic language to highlight the bird's heavenly and musical qualities.
Then, the poet questions if the skylark looks down upon the earth, where people are burdened with worries and responsibilities, suggesting a contrast between the bird's freedom and the troubles of human life.
He further asks the skylark whether the its heart and eyes remain focused on its nest, even as it soars high into the sky. He ponders if the bird's thoughts are still tethered to its humble abode on the dewy ground, despite its lofty flight.
Wordsworth admires the skylark's ability to descend to its nest whenever it desires, showcasing the bird's control over its own movements and surroundings. He also praises the continuous and melodious song of the skylark, which remains unwavering despite its movements.
Stanza 2
To the last point of vision, and beyond,
Mount, daring warbler!—that love-prompted strain
—'Twixt thee and thine a never-failing bond—
Thrills not the less the bosom of the plain:
Yet might'st thou seem, proud privilege! to sing
All independent of the leafy Spring.
GLOSSARY
Mount- to rise on high
daring - brave
warbler - singer
prompted - inspired
strain - song
twixt - between
thee - you
thine- yours
thrills- gives great pleasure or excitement
might'st- might
In the second stanza, the poet calls the skylark as brave singer and asks to move up high beyond the limit of human sight. He asks to sing its song which is inspired by the divine love there. There is a strong and unbreakable bond between the skylark and its home.
Despite the skylark's soaring flight, its song still resonates deeply within the earth, affecting the hearts of those on the ground. Wordsworth concludes the second stanza by acknowledging the skylark's ability to sing freely, seemingly unaffected by the changing seasons or the arrival of spring, highlighting its independence and resilience.
Stanza 3
Leave to the nightingale her shady wood;
A privacy of glorious light is thine;
Whence thou dost pour upon the world a flood
Of harmony, with instinct more divine;
Type of the wise, who soar, but never roam—
True to the kindred points of Heaven and Home!
GLOSSARY
whence - from where
kindred - related/meeting point
In the third stanza, William Wordsworth asks the skylark to leave the shady woods for the nightingale who sings only in spring season. He further tells that a place with glorious light where no one can reach and see belongs to the skylark.
The whole world is overflowed with the harmony of the sweet skylark's songs. The skylark's innate affection is elevated to a divine level by its heavenly connection and its commitment to earthly responsibilities.
The poet calls the skylark as wise because it never roams but performs its duties by singing its melodious songs.
William Wordsworth concluded the poem by saying that the skylark is the kindred points of heaven and the eath as it creates strong connection between the heaven and home. Despite soaring to the heavens, the skylark unfailingly returns to earth, its celestial song resonating with both heaven and earth.
Questions and Answers
Why is the skylark called a pilgrim of the sky?
The skylark is called a pilgrim of the sky because, like a pilgrim on a spiritual journey, it ascends towards the heavens while singing hymns of praise.
Why should the skylark despise the earth?
The skylark should despise the earth because the earth is full of worries and anxieties.
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