Analysis of A Caged Mocking-Bird



I pass a cobbler's shop along the street
And pause a moment at the door-step, where,
In nature's medley, piping cool and sweet,
The songs that thrill the swamps when spring is near,
Fly o'er the fields at fullness of the year,
And twitter where the autumn hedges run,
Join all the months of music into one.

I shut my eyes:    the shy wood-thrush is there,
And all the leaves hang still to catch his spell;
Wrens cheep among the bushes; from somewhere
A bluebird's tweedle passes o'er the fell;
From rustling corn bob-white his name doth tell;
And when the oriole sets his full heart free
Barefooted boyhood comes again to me.

The vision-bringer hangs upon a nail
Before a dusty window, looking dim
On marts where trade goes hot with box and bale;
The sad-eyed passers have no time for him.
His captor sits, with beaded face and grim,
Plying a listless awl, as in a dream
Of pastures winding by a shady stream.

Gray bird, what spirit bides with thee unseen?
For now, when every songster finds his love
And makes his nest where woods are deep and green,
Free as the winds, thy song should mock the dove.
If I were thou, my grief in moans should move
At thinking--otherwhere, by others' art
Charmed and forgetful--of mine own sweetheart.

But I, who weep when fortune seems unkind
To prison me within a space of walls,
When far-off grottoes hold my loves enshrined
And every love is cruel when it calls;
Who sulk for hills and fern-fledged waterfalls,--
I blush to offer sorrow unto thee,
Master of fate, scorner of destiny!


Scheme ABACCDD BEBEEFF GHGHHII JKJKXLL MNMNNFF
Poetic Form
Metre 1101010101 0101010111 0101010101 0111011111 11001110101 0101010101 1101110011 1111011111 0101111111 110101011 0110101001 1101111111 0101011111 1110111 010110101 0101010101 1111111101 0111011111 1101110101 1001011001 1101010101 1111011101 1111001111 0111111101 1101111101 1101110111 11011101 100101111 1111110101 1101010111 111111101 01001110111 111101110 1111010101 101111100
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,498
Words 279
Sentences 8
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 7, 7, 7, 7, 7
Lines Amount 35
Letters per line (avg) 34
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 237
Words per stanza (avg) 55
Font size:
 

Submitted on August 03, 2020

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:25 min read
7

John Charles McNeill

John Charles McNeill (1874-1907) was a Wake Forest alumni and one of North Carolina's most celebrated poets. His published works include Songs of Merry and Sad and Lyrics From the Cotton Land, the latter of which was published posthumously. more…

All John Charles McNeill poems | John Charles McNeill Books

0 fans

Discuss this John Charles McNeill poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "A Caged Mocking-Bird" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 20 Sep. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/55844/a-caged-mocking-bird>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    More poems by

    John Charles McNeill

    »

    September 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    10
    days
    1
    hour
    2
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    Who was “admirably schooled in every grace”?
    A J. Alfred Prufrock
    B Odysseus
    C Richard Cory
    D Miniver Cheevy