The Robin by Thomas Hardy (1904)
The poem explores the life and experiences of a robin, reflecting on its existence through various seasons. The robin expresses joy and freedom while flying high, observing the beauty of the sky and feeling content. This initial sense of happiness is contrasted with the struggles faced during winter, where the search for food becomes desperate and the bird feels unhappy. The imagery of winter frost turning the earth hard emphasizes the harshness of the season, leading to a sense of despair. As the poem progresses, the robin's perspective shifts. Despite the ongoing challenges of winter, the bird finds a form of acceptance in its circumstances. The transformation into a "cold stiff feathery ball" suggests a resignation to the inevitable hardships of life, highlighting themes of survival and adaptation. The juxtaposition of joy in flight and sorrow in scarcity encapsulates the duality of existence, illustrating the resilience of nature amidst adversity. The work ultimately reflects on the cyclical nature of life, where moments of happiness and despair coexist, shaping the identity of the robin.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1904 · Genre: Poetry, Nature Writing, Lyric · 166 words
First lines
WHEN up aloft / I fly and fly, / I see in pools / The shining sky, / And a happy bird / Am I, am I!
When I descend / Towards their brink / I stand, and look, / And stoop, and drink, / And bathe my wings, / And chink and prink.
When winter frost / Makes earth as steel / I search and search / But find no meal, / And most unhappy / Then I feel.
But when it lasts, / And snows still fall, / I get to feel / No grief at all, / For I turn to a cold stiff / Feathery ball!
Similar titles
- In The Garden by Thomas Hardy
- The Tree And The Lady by Thomas Hardy
- The Last Flower by Francis Sherman
- The Rose by Henry Lawson
- Love In Autumn by Sara Teasdale
- The Fallow Deer At The Lonely House by Thomas Hardy
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse and employs poetic devices, focusing on the emotional and sensory experiences of a bird.
- Nature Writing — The poem vividly describes the bird's interactions with its environment, emphasizing themes of survival and the changing seasons.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal feelings and reflections of the speaker, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — The focus on nature and emotion aligns with Romantic themes, highlighting the beauty and struggles of the natural world.
Tags
nature · birdwatching · symbolism · poetry · life · death · loss · nostalgia · rural · seasons · human emotion · connection
What this Textopian page supports
The Robin is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thomas Hardy, dated 1904 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: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature Writing, Lyric, Romanticism, Symbolism
- Length: 166 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Robin by Thomas Hardy
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph