A Bird came down the Walk—
He did not know I saw—
He bit an Angleworm in halves
And ate the fellow, raw,
And then he drank a Dew
From a convenient Grass—
And then hopped sidewise to the Wall
To let a Beetle pass—
He glanced with rapid eyes
That hurried all abroad—
They looked like frightened Beads, I thought—
He stirred his Velvet Head—
Like one in danger, Cautious,
I offered him a Crumb,
And he unrolled his feathers
And rowed him softer home—
Than Oars divide the Ocean,
Too silver for a seam—
Or Butterflies, off Banks of Noon,
Leap, plashless as they swim.
Emily Dickinson’s poem A Bird Came Down the Walk is a beautifully detailed observation of nature, capturing the delicate yet instinctive movements of a bird. The poem highlights themes of nature’s grace, the contrast between wild instincts and gentle beauty, and humanity’s interaction with the natural world.
Analysis
- Imagery and Detail – The poem is full of vivid imagery, from the bird eating the worm to its graceful flight. Dickinson captures both the harsh reality of survival and the delicate beauty of movement.
- Personification & Metaphor – The bird’s eyes are compared to “frightened Beads,” and its flight is likened to rowing a boat or a butterfly gliding effortlessly.
- Theme of Nature’s Duality – The poem contrasts the raw, instinctive side of nature (the bird eating the worm) with its elegance (the bird’s graceful flight).
- Human Interaction with Nature – The speaker attempts to interact by offering a crumb, but the bird, cautious of human presence, takes flight. This highlights the divide between the natural world and human influence.
This is one of Dickinson’s finest nature poems, showing her keen observation and deep appreciation for the world around her.