Shelley's Skylark by Thomas Hardy
The poem reflects on the legacy of a lark that inspired a poet, emphasizing the contrast between the bird's mundane existence and its immortalization through art. It begins by acknowledging the lark's unremarkable life, which ultimately ends in death, yet its essence continues to resonate through the poet's work. The speaker contemplates the lark's remains, suggesting they may lie hidden in the earth, symbolizing the transient nature of life and the enduring power of creativity. The speaker calls upon mythical faeries to locate the lark's remains, desiring to preserve them in a beautiful casket, signifying the reverence for artistic inspiration. This act of consecration highlights the relationship between mortality and immortality, where the lark's physical form may perish, but its spirit lives on through the poet's verses. The poem ultimately celebrates the transformative power of art, suggesting that even the most ordinary life can achieve greatness through the lens of creativity.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1877 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric · 257 words
First lines
(_The neighbourhood of Leghorn_: _March_, 1887)
SOMEWHERE afield here something lies In Earth's oblivious eyeless trust That moved a poet to prophecies- A pinch of unseen, unguarded dust
The dust of the lark that Shelley heard, And made immortal through times to be; - Though it only lived like another bird, And knew not its immortality.
Lived its meek life; then, one day, fell- A little ball of feather and bone; And how it perished, when piped farewell, And where it wastes, are alike unknown.
What this Textopian page supports
Shelley's Skylark is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thomas Hardy, dated 1877 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Thomas Hardy
- Date: 1877 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric, Nature Writing, Philosophical
- Length: 257 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is a poem reflecting on themes of immortality and inspiration, characteristic of poetic form.
- Romanticism — The poem embodies Romantic themes such as nature, beauty, and the transcendence of the human spirit, often associated with the works of Shelley.
- Lyric — The personal and emotional expression in the poem aligns with the characteristics of lyric poetry.
- Nature Writing — The poem's focus on the natural world and its connection to human experience highlights its relevance to nature writing.
Tags
nature · poetry · romanticism · loss · longing · freedom · beauty · melancholy · inspiration · transcendence · imagination · solitude