'Unknown Bird' by W.S. Merwin

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Out of the dry days
through the dusty leaves
far across the valley
those few notes never
heard here before

one fluted phrase
floating over its
wandering secret
all at once wells up
somewhere else

and is gone before it
goes on fallen into
its own echo leaving
a hollow through the air
that is dry as before

where is it from
hardly anyone
seems to have noticed it
so far but who now
would have been listening

it is not native here
that may be the one
thing we are sure of
it came from somewhere
else perhaps alone

so keeps on calling for
no one who is here
hoping to be heard
by another of its own
unlikely origin

trying once more the same few
notes that began the song
of an oriole last heard
years ago in another
existence there

it goes again tell
no one it is here
foreign as we are
who are filling the days
with a sound of our own

Editor 1 Interpretation

Unknown Bird by W.S. Merwin - A Literary Criticism

Introduction:

Have you ever felt a strong connection with nature? A sense that everything in the world is interconnected and that every living being has a purpose? If so, then you'll love the poem "Unknown Bird" by W.S. Merwin. Merwin's poem is a beautiful, thought-provoking piece that explores the natural world and man's relationship to it. In this literary criticism, we'll delve deeper into the meaning behind this classic poem.

The Poem:

"Unknown Bird" is a short poem consisting of just five stanzas. The poem begins with a description of a bird that the poet does not recognize. The bird is not named, and we are left to wonder what kind of bird it might be. The poet then goes on to describe the bird's song, which is "like nothing else in our language." The bird's song is so unique that it seems to transcend human language.

In the second stanza, the poet reflects on the bird's song and its effect on him. He says that the bird's song has filled him with a sense of wonder and amazement. He feels a deep connection to the bird and to the natural world around him. The poet then goes on to describe how the bird's song has transformed the landscape around him. The world seems to take on a new meaning and beauty in the presence of this unknown bird.

The third stanza is a reflection on the human relationship to nature. The poet observes that humans have become disconnected from the natural world, and that we have lost our ability to live in harmony with it. He laments the fact that we have lost touch with the beauty and wonder of the natural world, and that we have become blind to its mysteries.

In the fourth stanza, the poet reflects on the bird's song once again. He says that the bird's song has opened up a new world of meaning and possibility for him. He sees the world in a new light, and he feels a sense of hope and wonder in the face of the unknown. The bird's song is a reminder that there is still much to be discovered and explored in the natural world.

Finally, in the fifth and final stanza, the poet reflects on the transience of life. He observes that everything in the natural world is constantly changing and evolving, and that nothing lasts forever. He acknowledges the fleeting nature of the bird's song, and he accepts it as a part of the natural order of things. He ends the poem with a sense of acceptance and peace, knowing that everything in the natural world has its time and place.

Analysis:

"Unknown Bird" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores man's relationship to the natural world. At its core, the poem is about the beauty and wonder of the natural world, and our human connection to it. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and sensory details that bring the natural world to life.

One of the key themes in the poem is the idea of transcendence. The bird's song is described as being "like nothing else in our language," and it seems to transcend human understanding. The bird's song has a transformative effect on the poet, and it opens up a new world of meaning and possibility. The bird's song is a reminder that there is still much to be discovered and explored in the natural world.

Another important theme in the poem is the idea of transience. The poet reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the natural world. Everything is constantly changing and evolving, and nothing lasts forever. The bird's song is just one small moment in the larger cycle of life, and the poet accepts this fact with a sense of peace and understanding.

The poem also explores the human relationship to nature. The poet observes that humans have become disconnected from the natural world and that we have lost our ability to live in harmony with it. We have become blind to the beauty and wonder of the natural world, and we have lost touch with its mysteries. The poet suggests that we need to reconnect with the natural world and rediscover its beauty and wonder.

Conclusion:

"Unknown Bird" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores man's relationship to the natural world. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and sensory details that bring the natural world to life. It is a reminder that there is still much to be discovered and explored in the natural world, and that we need to reconnect with it in order to rediscover its beauty and wonder.

In conclusion, "Unknown Bird" by W.S. Merwin is a classic poem that speaks to the beauty and wonder of the natural world. It is a poem that inspires us to look deeper into the natural world and to rediscover its mysteries. The poem is a reminder that everything in the natural world has its time and place, and that we need to cherish and appreciate it while we can.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Unknown Bird: A Poem of Mystery and Wonder

W.S. Merwin's Unknown Bird is a poem that captures the essence of mystery and wonder. The poem is a beautiful exploration of the unknown and the unexplainable, and it leaves the reader with a sense of awe and curiosity. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.

The poem begins with the speaker describing an unknown bird that has come to visit. The bird is described as having "bright eyes" and a "sharp beak," but the speaker cannot identify the species. The bird is a mystery, and this sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is fascinated by the bird and wants to understand it, but it remains elusive.

The first stanza of the poem sets up the theme of the unknown. The speaker is intrigued by the bird, but they cannot identify it. This theme is continued throughout the poem, as the speaker tries to understand the bird's behavior and purpose. The bird is a symbol of the unknown, and the speaker is trying to unravel its mystery.

The second stanza of the poem introduces the idea of the bird's song. The speaker describes the bird's song as "strange," and they cannot understand its meaning. The bird's song is a mystery, just like the bird itself. The speaker is captivated by the bird's song, and they want to understand its meaning.

The third stanza of the poem introduces the idea of the bird's purpose. The speaker wonders why the bird has come to visit and what it wants. The bird's purpose is a mystery, and the speaker is trying to understand it. The bird is a symbol of the unknown, and the speaker is trying to unravel its mystery.

The fourth stanza of the poem introduces the idea of the bird's departure. The speaker describes the bird as "suddenly gone," and they are left with a sense of loss. The bird's departure is a mystery, and the speaker is left wondering why it came and why it left. The bird is a symbol of the unknown, and the speaker is trying to unravel its mystery.

The fifth and final stanza of the poem brings the themes of the unknown, the bird's song, the bird's purpose, and the bird's departure together. The speaker describes the bird's song as "echoing still," even though the bird is gone. The bird's song is a mystery that lingers, just like the bird itself. The speaker is left with a sense of wonder and curiosity, and they are still trying to understand the bird's purpose and why it came to visit.

The imagery used in the poem is beautiful and evocative. The bird is described as having "bright eyes" and a "sharp beak," which creates a vivid image in the reader's mind. The bird's song is described as "strange," which adds to the sense of mystery and wonder. The bird's departure is described as "suddenly gone," which creates a sense of loss and longing.

The language used in the poem is simple and direct, but it is also poetic and evocative. The repetition of the word "unknown" throughout the poem creates a sense of mystery and intrigue. The use of the word "echoing" in the final stanza creates a sense of the bird's presence even though it is gone. The language used in the poem is beautiful and adds to the sense of wonder and curiosity.

In conclusion, W.S. Merwin's Unknown Bird is a beautiful exploration of the unknown and the unexplainable. The poem captures the essence of mystery and wonder, and it leaves the reader with a sense of awe and curiosity. The themes, imagery, and language used in the poem all work together to create a powerful and evocative piece of poetry. The bird is a symbol of the unknown, and the speaker is trying to unravel its mystery. The poem is a reminder that there is still so much in the world that we do not understand, and that mystery and wonder are still alive and well.

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