Emily Dickinson

Before You Thought of Spring,

Before You Thought of Spring, - meaning Summary

Unexpected Joy Arrives Early

The poem describes an early, unanticipated harbinger of spring: a lone bird that appears "before you thought of spring." Dickinson focuses on the creature’s suddenness, plain but bright colors, and weathered yet enlivening presence. The bird offers songs as if presenting choices, then moves on to a bare tree and exults alone. The scene contrasts human expectation with nature’s spontaneous joy, suggesting small, solitary acts of vitality can announce renewal without audience or ceremony.

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Before you thought of spring, Except as a surmise, You see, God bless his suddenness, A fellow in the skies Of independent hues, A little weather-worn, Inspiriting habiliments Of indigo and brown. With specimens of song, As if for you to choose, Discretion in the interval, With gay delays he goes To some superior tree Without a single leaf, And shouts for joy to nobody But his seraphic self!

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