A Bird, came down the Walk - Emily Dickinson
Observing a Moment of Nature’s Poised Uncertainty
A Bird, came down the Walk—
He did not know I saw—
He bit an Angleworm in halves
And ate the fellow, raw,
And then he drank a Dew
From a convenient Grass—
And then hopped sidewise to the Wall
To let a Beetle pass—
He glanced with rapid eyes
That hurried all abroad—
They looked like frightened Beads, I thought—
He stirred his Velvet Head
Like one in danger, Cautious,
I offered him a Crumb,
And he unrolled his feathers,
And rowed him softer Home—
Than Oars divide the Ocean,
Too silver for a seam—
Or Butterflies, off Banks of Noon
Leap, plashless as they swim.
In this poem, Emily Dickinson depicts a seemingly ordinary moment—a bird moving along a path—yet infuses it with a sense of wonder and tension. The speaker quietly observes the bird’s behaviors: it snips an angleworm in half and eats it raw, then sips dew and steps aside to let a beetle pass. Each detail highlights the bird’s survival instincts and courteous, if unconscious, regard for other creatures.
The speaker’s presence introduces a dynamic of watchful curiosity. Notably, the bird does not realize it is being observed at first. Once it becomes aware of the speaker, a subtle shift occurs: the bird glances around with “rapid eyes,” suggesting alertness or mild fear. This wariness highlights a divide between human observer and wild creature, emphasizing that nature often views humanity as an intruder.
When the speaker offers the bird a crumb, Dickinson underscores the human desire to bridge the gap—an attempt at connection between two living beings. Yet the bird, in a display of instinctive freedom, ultimately departs. Dickinson compares its flight to oars dividing the ocean or butterflies gliding over flowers. These images convey fluidity and beauty but also suggest a boundary: the bird’s world remains largely inaccessible, an elegant realm of instinct and motion.
Taken as a whole, the poem contemplates both the fascination and the distance that characterize human interactions with nature. While the speaker yearns for a moment of unity, the bird’s cautious grace and final retreat affirm the autonomy of the natural world. Dickinson’s subtle observations remind us that wonder and respect go hand in hand when humans encounter other living creatures.
Key points
• Nature’s beauty and raw survival instincts coexist in a single scene.
• Observers often glimpse an uncertain balance between curiosity and caution.
• Attempts to connect with wildlife highlight both closeness and separation.
• Delicate imagery emphasizes the profound mystery of the natural world.