The Birds Begun at Four O’clock
poem 783
The Birds Begun at Four O’clock - meaning Summary
Morning Song as Miracle
The poem describes a sudden dawn chorus that begins at four and fills the world with a vast, neighborly music. The speaker cannot count the birds; their song seems an independent, ecstatic gift shared between divine and human witnesses. Ordinary people briefly observe but do not control it. By six the spectacle has ceased: the sun and everyday day reclaim attention and the miraculous visitation is quietly forgotten.
Read Complete AnalysesThe Birds begun at Four o’clock Their period for Dawn A Music numerous as space But neighboring as Noon I could not count their Force Their Voices did expend As Brook by Brook bestows itself To multiply the Pond. Their Witnesses were not Except occasional man In homely industry arrayed To overtake the Morn Nor was it for applause That I could ascertain But independent Ecstasy Of Deity and Men By Six, the Flood had done No Tumult there had been Of Dressing, or Departure And yet the Band was gone The Sun engrossed the East The Day controlled the World The Miracle that introduced Forgotten, as fulfilled.
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