He Reproves the Curlew

He Reproves the Curlew - meaning Summary

Longing Shaded by Sound

The speaker addresses a curlew, asking it to stop crying because its call summons memories of a past lover—"passion-dimmed eyes and long heavy hair"—and revives sorrow. The bird’s sound connects to intimate loss and the speaker’s desire to avoid further pain. The poem links natural cries to emotional disturbance, suggesting some sounds deepen grief while the wind’s lament already contains enough harm.