I have a Bird in spring
Which for myself doth sing —
The spring decoys.
And as the summer nears —
And as the Rose appears,
Robin is gone.

Yet do I not repine
Knowing that Bird of mine
Though flown —
Learneth beyond the sea
Melody new for me
And will return.

Fast is a safer hand
Held in a truer Land
Are mine —
And though they now depart,
Tell I my doubting heart
They’re thine.

In a serener Bright,
In a more golden light
I see
Each little doubt and fear,
Each little discord here
Removed.

Then will I not repine,
Knowing that Bird of mine
Though flown
Shall in a distant tree
Bright melody for me
Return.

Analysis, meaning and summary of Emily Dickinson's poem I have a Bird in spring

20 Comments

  1. Celia Wooldridge says:

    This Poem Touched my Soul,, as a Poet Myself i closely
    relate to her in so many ways of her Life also ; she wrote about the Bird of Spring ,i painted apainting of The Birds of Spring ,,n The Feelings she expresses in her poem ,i expressed in my painting . Poet n Artist Celia Wooldridge

  2. Trinn says:

    This poem is one of my favorite poems of Emily Dickinson– &I was wondering if anyone knew of what the theme is for this poem?

  3. sophia says:

    i do so love this poem it is a really good poem

  4. steph says:

    @gabse, i think you touched on what the meaning of the poem is, its about the cycle of life and death. the third and fourth stanzas create a spiritual feel to the poem. “held in a truer land” “they’re thine” “serener bright” “golden light” the bird (or person/loved one) has died. its no longer returning to her, it shall sing to her from a “distant tree.”

  5. Abi says:

    I LOVED THIS POEM! It basically means: if you love something, let it go. If it was meant to be, they will come back to you. You know the saying! It was beautiful.

  6. gabse says:

    hey..
    i personally think that the bird represents some kind of never ending circle.. emily dickinson knows the bird has to leave her, but she also knows that he will come back because he has to come back, that’s just the way it goes in nature.
    and i also think the bird musn’t necessarily represent a person/ a thing that went away/ she lost, but could show how deep feelings can be restrained or taken away, but will come back someday.
    sry if it sounds a bit crazy^^

  7. brianna says:

    i love poems this one was the best i ever heard

  8. Megan says:

    I really enjoyed this poem; Emily is a great writer!

  9. Christina Brewer says:

    this poem is off the hook i just love it and i love the writer shes SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WONDER ful i just love her

  10. Juan says:

    This poem, as all masterpieces by any great writers, can be interpreted in a variety of way. Dickinson gives us a bird that comes to her garden in Spring, then leaves and comes back again the following year and makes her ever so happy again. Many readers have suggested that she is referring to a very dear friend she misses tremendously and that she can’t wait for him to come back. This could be extended to the cycle of natural life and the hardships of Life that need hope and effort to be born and overcome and finally, the theme of Death and our Awakening in Heaven, where, according to the Christian faith, there are no shadows or hardships. The Robin could very well be her heart or even her immortal soul.

    • Kenny says:

      Hello Juan,
      I also feel the poem lends itself to multiple interpretations. In fact, I feel the poem is a metaphor for something else.

  11. Kates says:

    I feel that this is a lovely poem. I’m learning it for a school project, and every time I look it over again, something new springs out at me. It’s melancholy, but also rather hopeful, bringing out the ‘Darkness before the dawn’ aspect. And also that happiness is easy, you can get it from simple things, if you let yourself. I know that this is probably a silly comment, but I had to make it.

  12. wallace says:

    the two comments prior to this one is quite interesting, as are the ones before; atleast those that pertaqined to the poem. However i felt that the idea of Emily being in a state of emotional burden due to the parting of someone she obviously cares for, was among the best interpetation i’ve heard of this particular poem. It is also imperative to not that a number of her poems are affliated with lost love or the lack of love.

  13. jimiruna says:

    i agree with the comments by Helen.I think Ms Dickinson was aluding to someone she admired,using the Robin.the poem is has a sentimental tone to it,somewhat wishing the bird(person) did’nt have to go,but also knowing it(he) must go,and like the bird-and the seasons,it has to go but wll come back again.

  14. Helen says:

    In this poem of Emily Dickinson she is speaking of an individual leaving her and using the season and birds to examplify what she feels and what the person, leaving feels and always will, even after leaving her. She is really not sad but is expressing deep emotional feelings of this departure. This is why I think she places emphase on the word repine. She used this word three times through out her poem. The text she uses it in lets one know she is not dissatisfied or complaining about the departure because there will always be a connection.

  15. Jessica says:

    I think though she is sad, she is also showing the happiness that always seems to return. She may be saying that pain returns, but also does happiness. You just need to wait for it to come. Even if it is only from simple things like a songbird. She finds love and a simple happiness in a simple bird.

  16. Kimmy says:

    the poem was great,ofcorse what else can you expect from a great poet like herself. it reveals her pain in life, but also how beliving in life will make things better.

  17. Nikki says:

    This is a great poem. I believe it shows Emily’s pain, but also her hopefullness for things to improve in the future.

  18. Freudy says:

    This poem shows Emily’s heart and the pain that she felt. Comments given by previous readers should be disregarded. They have not common sense and cannot even put a proper, comprehensive sentence together. Poetry is for those who understand the soul and this is a prime example.

  19. m&m says:

    Hey! i just want to say that that poem was kind of cool and it kind of boring to me cause that it was not kind of cool to do that shit so fuck all of your poem’s that you write and fuck all of you but my bro’s just want to say that whats up to all the people that live in the rez and what up to all the west side out there stay cool and stay up

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