The Starling by Amy Lowell (1913)
The Starling by Amy Lowell is a poem that explores the themes of love, beauty, and mortality. The speaker of the poem reflects on the transience of life and the fleeting nature of beauty, likening it to a starling's flight. The poem concludes with the lines "For beauty is not in the face / But in the line of the mouth and the sparkle in the eye," suggesting that true beauty lies not in physical appearance but in the inner light of the soul.
By Amy Lowell · First published 1913 · Genre: Poetry, Romantic, Imagism · 172 words
First lines
"I can't get out', said the starling." Sterne's 'Sentimental Journey'.
Forever the impenetrable wall Of self confines my poor rebellious soul, I never see the towering white clouds roll Before a sturdy wind, save through the small Barred window of my jail. I live a thrall With all my outer life a clipped, square hole, Rectangular; a fraction of a scroll Unwound and winding like a worsted ball.
My thoughts are grown uneager and depressed Through being always mine, my fancy's wings Are moulted and the feathers blown away.
I weary for desires never guessed, For alien passions, strange imaginings, To be some other person for a day.
What this Textopian page supports
The Starling is listed on Textopian as a poem by Amy Lowell, dated 1913 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Amy Lowell
- Date: 1913 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romantic, Imagism
- Length: 172 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Starling by Amy Lowell
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — Amy Lowell is a well-known poet, and her writing style and techniques closely align with this genre.
- Romantic — Themes of love and passion often feature in Amy Lowell's works, making this genre a likely fit.
- Imagism — Amy Lowell was a leading figure in the imagist movement, utilizing its principles of direct, clear language and imagery in her works.
Tags
poetry · nature · birds · wildlife · beauty · inspiration · motivation · emotions · humanity · narrative · storytelling · language