A Bird From The West

By Dora Sigerson Shorter

Lyric Poem
     At the grey dawn, amongst the felling leaves,             A little bird outside my window swung,      High on a topmost branch he trilled his song,             And “Ireland! Ireland! Ireland!” ever sung.      Take me, I cried, back to my island home;             Sweet bird, my soul shall ride between thy wings;      For my lone spirit wide his pinions spread,             And home and home and home he ever sings.      We lingered over Ulster stern and wild.             I called: “Arise! doth none remember me?”      One turnèd in the darkness murmuring,             “How loud upon the breakers sobs the sea!”      We rested over Connaught-whispering said:             “Awake, awake, and welcome!    I am here.”      One woke and shivered at the morning grey;             “The trees, I never heard them sigh so drear.”      We flew low over Munster.    Long I wept:             “You used to love me, love me once again!”      They spoke from out the shadows wondering;             “You’d think of tears, so bitter falls the rain.”      Long over Leinster lingered we. “Good-bye!             My best beloved, good-bye for evermore.”      Sleepless they tossed and whispered to the dawn;             “So sad a wind was never heard before.”      Was it a dream I dreamt?    For yet there swings             In the grey morn a bird upon the bough,      And “Ireland! Ireland! Ireland!” ever sings.             Oh! fair the breaking day in Ireland now.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This deeply emotive poem is a poignant exploration of longing, homeland, and the passage of time. Its theme is centered around Ireland, the poet's homeland, and the sentiments that accompany the memories of it. The tone is melancholic and nostalgic, with the speaker yearning for their home, invoking the regions of Ulster, Connaught, Munster, and Leinster, further emphasizing the depth of their connection to Ireland.

The poem is structured in a series of stanzas, each depicting a different scene or memory associated with a particular region. The refrain of the bird's song, “Ireland! Ireland! Ireland!”, is a potent literary device that reinforces the central theme and also serves to bind the poem's stanzas together. This refrain also sets a rhythmic tone that mirrors the cyclical nature of longing and reminiscence.

The bird, a consistent symbol throughout the poem, serves as a conduit between the speaker and their homeland. The speaker’s desire to fly on the bird’s wings underscores their desperate yearning for home. Additionally, the dialogue within the poem is an effective device that illustrates the speaker's interaction with their memories, further enhancing the emotional resonance of the poem.

In the concluding stanzas, the questioning of whether the experience was a dream adds a layer of ambiguity, highlighting the surreal nature of longing and the elusive nature of memory. This lends a lasting, bittersweet resonance to the speaker's final, hopeful proclamation of Ireland's dawn, tying together the poem's exploration of yearning, homeland, and the passage of time.

Exploring Lyric Poetry

Lyric poetry is a powerful and intimate form of expression, characterized by its focus on the personal emotions and thoughts of the poet. Often musical in nature, lyric poems resonate with readers through their vivid language and rhythmic flow, capturing moments of intense feeling.

Here are some key characteristics that define lyric poetry:

  • Expressive Language: Lyric poems use rich and evocative language to convey deep emotions, often painting a vivid picture of the poet's inner world.
  • Personal Perspective: Typically written in the first person, these poems offer a window into the poet's personal experiences, thoughts, and reflections.
  • Musicality: Lyric poems often feature a rhythmic structure, with meter and rhyme that give them a song-like quality, enhancing the emotional impact.

From ancient odes to contemporary free verse, lyric poetry remains a beloved and enduring form, celebrated for its ability to articulate the nuances of human emotion in a way that resonates deeply with readers.