Criticism of Bryants To a Waterfowl :: Poems of Bryant

The poems of Bryant may be classed, with regard to their subjects--those expressing a universal interest, telling to the great conditions of humanity, types of nature symbolical of these, as the Winds poems of a national and truehearted sentiment, or expressive of the heroic in character, as the Song of Marions Men. Of these, credibly the most enduring will be those which draw their vitality more than immediately from the American soil. In these thither is a purity of nature, and a certain rustic grace, which speak at once the nature of the poet and his subject. symbolical images of nature abound in his verses. here(predicate) Id interchangeable to share some of my observation of some of the poem to a waterfowl.Whither, midst falling dew, While glow the promised lands with the last steps of day, Far, by dint of their rosy depths, dost thou pursue Thy solitary way? Whitherto what place. We have to pack the whole stanza to complete the question. The author delays the meaning s o long by putting in the description of time and place to create a feeling of distance to the destination. And "thee, thou, thy"--these are all poetic ways of verbal expression "you" in the singular form. In a sense, focusing on a single distinctive "you" with no possibility of it being the plural "you." So, perchance it is more than just poetic diction, but the emphasis of solitude.Seekst thou the plashy bankOf weedy lake, or marge of river wide, Or where the rocking billows rise and sink On the chafed ocean side? Rubbed away by friction, constant irritation. Here are three different possible destinations for the waterfowl. they have some elegantg in common. at that place is a Power whose careTeaches thy way along that pathless coast,-- The ravage and illimitable air,-- Lone wandering, but not lostIf he is speak of God (what kind of god?), why does he call him a Power? Birds migrate because of natural instincts--what is the connection to a Power here? He might imply that Nature and God are determine Again, notice the emphasis on Lone.In the fifth stanza, cold thin atmosphere, stoop, weary," and "welcome land" contrast sharply. which adds to the picture of the bird both concretely and symbolically. this birds flight is beginning to represent the lonely and lifelong struggle of the source himself in hope of finding his welcome land. Thourt gone, the abyss of heaven Hath swallowed up thy form yet, on my heart