"A Bird Came Down the Walk" is a poem written by Emily Dickinson that describes the fleeting visit of a bird to the speaker's yard. Through the speaker's observations of the bird's behavior and the natural world around them, the poem explores themes of mortality, the beauty of nature, and the fleeting nature of life.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the bird's arrival, saying "A bird came down the walk / He did not know I saw." The use of the pronoun "he" suggests a sense of intimacy between the speaker and the bird, as if the speaker is observing the bird from close proximity. The fact that the bird is unaware of the speaker's presence further emphasizes this sense of intimacy, as it suggests that the speaker is able to observe the bird without disturbing it.
As the poem progresses, the speaker describes the bird's actions in detail, noting that it "bit an angleworm in halves / And ate the fellow, raw." The speaker's choice to use the word "angleworm" rather than "worm" adds to the sense of intimacy between the speaker and the bird, as it suggests that the speaker has a deep knowledge and understanding of the natural world. The bird's actions also highlight the brutal, primal nature of the natural world, as it eats the worm raw without hesitation.
Despite the bird's brutal behavior, the speaker describes it as "gentle" and "still." This contrast between the bird's actions and its demeanor adds to the poem's themes of mortality and the fleeting nature of life. The bird's gentle nature suggests that it is not a threat to the speaker, but rather a peaceful and serene presence in the natural world. At the same time, the fact that the bird is "still" suggests that its visit is fleeting, as it will eventually leave the speaker's yard and continue on its journey.
In the final stanza of the poem, the speaker reflects on the bird's visit, saying "He drank from my finger-cup / And I from his beak." This exchange between the speaker and the bird serves as a metaphor for the interconnectedness of all living things, as the speaker and the bird share a drink and become connected in a small, yet significant way. The use of the phrase "finger-cup" adds to this sense of intimacy, as it suggests that the speaker is offering the bird a small, personal gesture of hospitality.
Overall, "A Bird Came Down the Walk" is a beautifully crafted poem that uses the visit of a bird to explore themes of mortality, the beauty of nature, and the fleeting nature of life. Through its vivid descriptions of the bird's behavior and the natural world around it, the poem invites the reader to consider their own place in the world and the beauty and impermanence of life.
