High from the Earth I Heard a Bird
The poem explores the idea of transcendence and spiritual connection through nature. The speaker describes a moment where they hear a bird singing from high above the earth, evoking feelings of awe and wonder. The poem suggests that this experience allows the speaker to momentarily escape the confines of their physical existence and connect with something greater than themselves.
By Emily Dickinson · First published 1890 · Genre: Poetry, Nature, Philosophical · 153 words
First lines
High from the earth I heard a bird; He trod upon the trees As he esteemed them trifles, And then he spied a breeze, And situated softly Upon a pile of wind Which in a perturbation Nature had left behind.
A joyous-going fellow I gathered from his talk, Which both of benediction And badinage partook, Without apparent burden, I learned, in leafy wood He was the faithful father Of a dependent brood; And this untoward transport His remedy for care, -- A contrast to our respites.
How different we are!
What this Textopian page supports
High from the Earth I Heard a Bird is listed on Textopian as a poem by Emily Dickinson, dated 1890 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Emily Dickinson
- Date: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature, Philosophical, Reflective
- Length: 153 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Similar titles
- A Tempest by Emily Dickinson
- Advice To A Butterfly by Maxwell Bodenheim
- Sky Coloured Bird by Edna St Vincent Millay
- The Grass by Emily Dickinson
- The White Bark by Edna St Vincent Millay
- Mother Nature by Emily Dickinson
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Nature — The poem centers around a bird and its interaction with the natural world, highlighting themes of nature.
- Philosophical — The poem explores themes of existence and contrasts between human and animal life, suggesting philosophical undertones.
- Reflective — The poem reflects on the differences between human and bird life, inviting introspection.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Imagery · Symbolism · Mortality · Existentialism · Philosophy · Spirituality · Solitude · Isolation · Freedom · Escape