Dover Anthology of Bird Poetry

From Shakespeare's quill to modern poets' pens, birds have soared through the pages of poetry as emblematic harbingers of life's most profound themes. Explore this enchanting trajectory, capturing the essence of these avian muses from the Elizabethan epoch to the twentieth century.
  
"The bird is that rare creature which, like us, acts as both vehicle and witness to the everyday miracle of living."

Poets have long treated birds as a captivating source of inspiration as metaphors, references, and symbols of death, eternity, life, love, power, religious beliefs, and superstitions. Others have used different types of birds to express their thoughts and emotions. This volume highlights these remarkable creatures as they take flight from the Elizabethan era through the twentieth century. Selections from classic to contemporary authors include poems by William Blake, Emily Dickinson, John Keats, Herman Melville, Edgar Allan Poe, Wallace Stevens, William Carlos Williams, William Butler Yeats, and others. This anthology is ideal for classroom use, independent study, and personal perusal.
 

• A Flight through Time: Explore the rich tapestry of bird-inspired poetry from the Elizabethan era to the twentieth century, showcasing how these feathered muses have captured the imaginations of poets across generations.
• Literary Giants Meet Avian Muses: Discover selections from renowned poets, including William Blake, Robert Burns, Emily Dickinson, John Keats, Edgar Allen Poe, Robert Frost, Henry David Thoreau, Shakespeare, Walt Whitman, and more, as they intertwine the elegance and symbolism of birds with the most profound human experiences.
• Beyond Mere Symbolism: Read poems in which birds are not just metaphors for death and eternity but vibrant sources of inspiration for love, power, and profound spiritual beliefs.
• A Spectrum of Feathers: This anthology celebrates the diversity of the avian world, from the Blackbird, Canary, Dove, and Eagle to the Hawk, Hummingbird, Nightingale, Peacock, Pelican, Phoenix, Raven, Swan, and others. Each bird reflects the poet's inner thoughts and emotions through its unique lens.
• For Every Reader: Whether for classroom learning, independent study, or personal enjoyment, this volume offers a gateway to understanding the symbiotic relationship between humans and birds in poetry.
• A Legacy of Literary Excellence: Join literature lovers who cherish this collection as a critical resource for appreciating the intricate relationship between nature's winged creatures and the art of poetry.