God gave a Loaf to every Bird —
But just a Crumb — to Me —
I dare not eat it — tho’ I starve —
My poignant luxury —

To own it — touch it —
Prove the feat — that made the Pellet mine —
Too happy — for my Sparrow’s chance —
For Ampler Coveting —

It might be Famine — all around —
I could not miss an Ear —
Such Plenty smiles upon my Board —
My Garner shows so fair —

I wonder how the Rich — may feel —
An Indiaman — An Earl —
I deem that I — with but a Crumb —
Am Sovereign of them all —

Analysis, meaning and summary of Emily Dickinson's poem God gave a Loaf to every Bird —

4 Comments

  1. Rachel Graziotti says:

    My thoughts are that materially she had very little but inwardly, she had great wealth…true richness

  2. paul says:

    i forgot to put that mabe the reason she started off with less that everyone else was that she is talking about a kid that was born very sick and recoverd.

  3. Paul says:

    I am supposed to do a litterary analysis on a peom of my choice and I find this one very interesting. I also wanted to know if my vision of the poem makes sense.

    She expresses the feeling of starting with almost nothing (when she was born) and later on, because everyone everyone used up what the hade received from God, she is the richest one. She wants to continue to be the richest and get all attention, so she doesent help the others by dividing what she has left. She probably also wants them to get a lesson from it and doesent want to share so that next time they get something, they will keep it for hard times.

    this is what i thougth about this poem but I cant figure out what God gave her, it obviousely cannot be bread so could it be talent?

    • Dhanashri says:

      Hello… curious to know how you feel about this poem more than 15 years later!!

      I just came across it in a book and looked up its interpretations. For me the crumb that God gave her represents peace of mind of which the sparrow has plenty. But the richer men who rule and trade do not have

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