What's Season May?

Season May is a poem by Emily Dickinson, first published in 1896. The poem consists of four stanzas, each with four lines. The poem describes the arrival of spring and the changes that it brings to the natural world.

First stanza:
A Bird came down the Walk—
He did not know I saw—
He bit an Angleworm in halves
And ate the fellow, raw.

Second stanza:
And then he drank a Dew
From a convenient Grass—
And then hopped sidewise to the Wall
To let a Beetle pass—

Third stanza:
He glanced with rapid eyes
That hurried all around—
They looked like frightened Beads, I thought—
He stirred his Velvet Head—

Fourth stanza:
Like one in danger, Cautious,
I offered him a Crumb—
And he unrolled his feathers
And rowed him softer home—

Analysis:

The poem uses simple language and vivid imagery to create a sense of wonder and awe at the beauty of the natural world. The speaker of the poem observes a bird as it goes about its daily routine, and the poem captures the bird's innocence and vulnerability.

The first stanza introduces the bird as it arrives on the walk. The bird is unaware of the speaker's presence and proceeds to eat an angleworm. The act of eating the worm is described in a graphic and visceral way, which highlights the bird's predatory nature.

The second stanza describes the bird drinking dew from the grass. The bird's movements are graceful and fluid, and the speaker is struck by the beauty of the creature. The third stanza describes the bird's eyes, which are described as "frightened Beads." The bird's eyes suggest that it is aware of the speaker's presence and is wary of being observed.

The fourth stanza describes the speaker offering the bird a crumb. The bird accepts the crumb and flies away, its feathers unfurled. The act of offering the crumb is a gesture of kindness from the speaker, and it suggests that the speaker has come to appreciate the bird's beauty and innocence.

Conclusion:

Season May is a beautiful and evocative poem that captures the wonder and beauty of the natural world. The poem's simple language and vivid imagery create a sense of intimacy between the speaker and the bird, and the poem invites the reader to reflect on the beauty and fragility of life.