The Robin’s My Criterion for Tune
poem 285
The Robin’s My Criterion for Tune - meaning Summary
Perception Shaped by Place
The poem argues that taste and judgment are determined by environment. The speaker uses local plants and birds—the robin, buttercup, nut, and snow—as criteria for what counts as proper tune, bloom, and season. She imagines that had she been born elsewhere she would adopt different standards. The closing image, that even a queen discerns "provincially," extends this provincialism to social rank and underscores perception as conditioned rather than absolute.
Read Complete AnalysesThe Robin’s my Criterion for Tune Because I grow where Robins do But, were I Cuckoo born I’d swear by him The ode familiar rules the Noon The Buttercup’s, my Whim for Bloom Because, we’re Orchard sprung But, were I Britain born, I’d Daisies spurn None but the Nut October fit Because, through dropping it, The Seasons flit I’m taught Without the Snow’s Tableau Winter, were lie to me Because I see New Englandly The Queen, discerns like me Provincially
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