To a Waterfowl

"To a Waterfowl" is a poem by American poet William Cullen Bryant that was first published in 1821.

Analysis

Bryant chooses a waterfowl of all animals to write about simply because of a special encounter he had on the way to his friend's house. It seems that Bryant was walking along and noticed that the waterfowl was flying around overhead on some lone journey. Then Bryant began to think that it was not alone. He realized that the waterfowl, while seeming alone, was actually being guided by some higher being, as was he himself, and that they both would find their way.

Bryant's poem begins with a waterfowl in flight and a hunter below. The bird's instinct allows it to fly to safety. As the speaker watches the bird, he ponders the mysteries of migration. Bryant parallels the bird's instinct to a "Power." Even though humans have no real instinct to guide them to safety, there is a "Power," or God, that will guide them to safety.

In the last paragraph of the poem, Bryant seems to be comparing our interaction with himself to that of a waterfowl and its instinct.

He says: "He who from zone to zone,/ Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight,/ In the long way that I must tread alone,/ Will lead my steps aright."

The poem is saying that throughout our life wherever we go, God is going to be with us guiding us down the right path? And in times when we think we must go alone, he too will be with us then. He never leaves us long enough for us to fall; He just leaves us long enough for us to learn from what we do. The waterfowl is a symbol of power.

ee also

*"Thanatopsis"

References