"To a Skylark"

Poetry | Percy Bysshe Shelley

"To a Skylark" Themes

Divinity of Nature

In “To a Skylark,” Shelley writes about a small bird called a skylark. This bird sings beautifully while flying high in the sky. The poet says that its song is so sweet and lovely that it feels like music from heaven. The skylark’s song is better than any music made by humans. Shelley compares the bird to pretty things in nature, like a golden glow-worm or a sweet-smelling rose. The poet feels that the bird is not just beautiful, but also divine—like a messenger from heaven. Even when we cannot see the skylark, we can hear its joyful voice. Shelley believes that nature, like the skylark, is full of beauty and power. It brings humans closer to something holy/divine.

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