February Afternoon by Edward Thomas
The poem reflects on the cyclical nature of time and existence, juxtaposing the eternal rhythms of nature with human struggles and conflicts. It begins with a vivid depiction of starlings and rooks, illustrating their timeless behavior in the agricultural landscape. The imagery evokes a sense of continuity, suggesting that these scenes have persisted unchanged for centuries. The speaker contemplates the passage of time, feeling as if a thousand years could pass in a single day. This perception highlights the contrast between the natural world, which operates on its own schedule, and human endeavors, often marked by conflict and strife. The mention of men striking and bearing the stroke of war emphasizes the persistent nature of human violence and the futility of such actions in the grand scheme of existence. The poem also introduces a divine presence, portrayed as indifferent to human affairs. This notion of a "stone-deaf and stone-blind" God suggests a disconnect between the divine and the human experience, raising questions about the meaning of suffering and the purpose of life amidst the relentless passage of time. Overall, the work encapsulates themes of transience, the inevitability of change, and the enduring cycles of nature, while critiquing the human condition and its often tumultuous history. The speaker's reflections serve as a meditation on existence, urging a recognition of the beauty and continuity found in the natural world, even as human actions seem to disrupt it.
By Edward Thomas · First published 1917 · Genre: Poetry, Nature Writing, Philosophical Literature · 129 words
First lines
Men heard this roar of parleying starlings, saw, A thousand years ago even as now, Black rooks with white gulls following the plough So that the first are last until a caw Commands that last are first again -- a law Which was of old when one, like me, dreamed how A thousand years might dust lie on his brow Yet thus would birds do between hedge and shaw.
Time swims before me, making as a day A thousand years, while the broad ploughland oak Roars mill-like and men strike and bear the stroke Of war as ever, audacious or resigned, And God still sits aloft in the array That we have wrought him, stone-deaf and stone-blind.
What this Textopian page supports
February Afternoon is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edward Thomas, dated 1917 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Edward Thomas
- Date: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature Writing, Philosophical Literature, War Literature, Historical Literature
- Length: 129 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
- Nature Writing — The themes focus on the natural world, particularly the imagery of birds and landscapes.
- Philosophical Literature — The text explores deep themes of time, existence, and the human condition.
- War Literature — It reflects on the impact of war and human struggle.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Seasonal · Winter · Reflection · Mood · Atmosphere · Imagery · Symbolism · Nostalgia · Melancholy · Solitude