Sky-Coloured Bird

Name: Sky-Coloured Bird
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem explores the imagery and symbolism of a bird characterized by its vibrant blue wings and striking colors, juxtaposed against a backdrop of nature. The bird embodies beauty and grace, evoking the freshness of spring and the interplay of light and color in the natural world. The description highlights the bird's exquisite features, such as its proud crest and iridescent nape, while also contrasting its current dullness as it scavenges in a cinder-pit. The work reflects on themes of transformation, the fleeting nature of beauty, and the contrast between vibrancy and desolation. The bird serves as a metaphor for the complexities of existence, embodying both the splendor of life and the inevitability of decay. The imagery of the meadows and brooks enhances the sense of a lively, yet transient, environment, suggesting a deeper connection between the bird and its surroundings. As the poem progresses, the tone shifts from admiration to a more somber reflection on the bird's current state, emphasizing the loss of vibrancy and the impact of the environment on its appearance. The use of color symbolism throughout the piece reinforces the emotional resonance, inviting readers to contemplate the relationship between beauty, nature, and the passage of time. The final lines encapsulate the duality of the bird's existence, remaining "sky-coloured" even under a "slaty sky," suggesting resilience amidst adversity.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1921 · Genre: Poetry, Nature Writing, Symbolism · 167 words

First lines

Sky-coloured bird, blue wings with no more spots of spotless Â Â Â white

Dappled, than on a day in spring

When the brown meadows trickle with a hundred brooks two inches broad and wink and flash back light-

Dappled with no more white than on an all but cloudless sky makes clear blue deeper and more bright.

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Sky-Coloured Bird is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1921 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1921 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Nature Writing, Symbolism, Modernism, Lyrical
Length: 167 words
Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)

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Genres

Poetry — The work is a poem characterized by its use of vivid imagery, rhythm, and emotional expression.
Nature Writing — The poem explores themes of nature, specifically focusing on birds and the beauty of the natural world.
Symbolism — The use of colors and birds serves as symbols for deeper meanings and emotions throughout the poem.
Modernism — The poem reflects modernist themes through its innovative use of language and form.