Reading response #3

“A Voice, A Mystery”: Wordsworth’s Cuckoo, by David Mulry is an Article I found especially intriguing. In this article the author clearly states how they believe that Wordsworth’s cuckoo in “To the Cuckoo” is a complex symbol of nature. The author makes it clear that the birds physical being and presence is not the main focus of what Wordsworth is intending to portray. The author states how while the poet is laying in the grass, he invites the viewer to join him in listening to the “twin fold shout” (line 6) of the birds melodic harmony. How the “cuc-koo” gives multiple parts to the meaning of the bird. Its voice and sounds of beauty, and its stature and physical being of a graceful animal. Wordsworth compares the bird to nature and its surroundings, and how they are both endless in what they can produce and give. Also being as beautiful and elegant as the bird’s music. The author also makes known how “the cuc-koo, also refers to a number of other dualities and parallels that Wordsworth explores in this poem, including that of body and spirit, bird and poet, present and past, and presentand future, all of which are entwined with Wordsworth’s portrait of the bird.” The author suggests how Wordsworth has exact opposite viewings of things during all of his work. In the first stanza “O Cuckoo! Shall I call thee bird, / or but a wandering voice?”, or later in the fourth stanza, “Thrice welcome, darling of the spring! / No bird, but just an invisible thing.” Wordsworth is always claiming he knows things are what they are, and then later contradicts himself in disagreeing, but backed up once again later by stating his beliefs as true once again. Wordsworth’s cuckoo, as a marker of transition, is described in the third stanza as bringing “visionary hours” (12) by Mulry. The language of the final stanza is showing us how his world is viewed. “Again appears” tells us quite clearly that Wordsworth’s modern world is beyond the shadow of doubt changed, and for the worse. “The word “pace” suggests to us the image of life as a burden or a chore. Coleridge’s protagonist is restored through his religious belief in the importance of nature; so, too, is Wordsworth’s speaker as he hears the Cuckoo’s cry; nature again proves itself a healing balm.” The end of the poem offers apromising discovery, the “unsubstantial, fairy place” that is the counterpart of the

normal world we generally dwell in.

           

This article has quite a bit of information and meaning backed behind it and the poem it’s about. I think Mulry did a great job of deciphering this poem and finding what it was about and comparing it to Wordsworth’s philosophy’s and ideas, nevertheless his own life as well. I agree and think that the Bird in the poem in definitely a strong symbol of nature, life, and even society. This poem shows how the poet has a habit of thinking with opposites, as that’s just how the world works. As seen in my group’s blog, we tried to make it clear as possible that Wordsworth is greatly influenced by nature. He finds nature to be the center of mankind and all it gives. The poet feels that if nature is everything we are, then isn’t that all there is to it, we came with the earth. If nature wasn’t here, we would be nothing and diminish. Nature is his energy source and motivation, without nature there is no motivation. Nature is us, and we are nature. Wordsworth’s quote “Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher”, is a perfect example of this. We don’t need anything but nature. Nature gives us Nurture, love, health, inspiration, motivation and well being. If you let yourself go and don’t worry about what’s right or wrong and just let nature take you and guide you along the path to fulfillment, then you won’t have anything to regret. I as well feel that all these things are true. I believe that everything has a purpose and everything is meant to be. That if something wasn’t supposed to happen, then it simply will not. But if an emergency can happen, then it will. Overall I found this article exciting and a quick but delightful read. It definitely gives well written reasoning to what this poems core meaning is.