A Bird came down the Walk (328)

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 DewFrom a convenient Grass-And then hopped sideways to the WallTo let a Beetle pass-He glanced with rapid eyesThat hurried all around-They looked like frightened Bead, I thought-He stirred his Velvet HeadLike one in danger, Cautious, I offered him a CrumbAnd he unrolled his feathersAnd rowed him softer home-Then Oars divide the Ocean,Too silver for a seam-Or butterflies, off Banks of NoonLeap, plashless as they swim.

Rhyming Scheme -  1st and 2nd Stanza Exact rhyme on 2nd and 4th line 'Saw-' ', raw,'  'grass - ' 'pass - ' 3rd Stanza slant rhyme 'around - ' 'Head' (The bird is startled) 5th Stanza slant rhyme 'seam - ' 'swim.'Devices - Alliteration 'drank a Dew' Smilie 'like frightened Beads' Metaphor 'Velvet Head' Mood - Calm, conversational, peacefulSetting - Outdoors, NatureCharacters - Bird, the watcher, a worm, a bettleMessages - Themes - Nature

Observation of a Bird

Nature

Exact Rhyme

Exact Rhyme

Slant Rhyme

Pause

Pause

Enjambment 

Causes ambiguity - who is Cautious? The Bird or the Watcher? 

Or is the Bird in danger, and the watcher cautious?

Pause

Stop.

Distinctions between subject and self are weakened 

Use of comma creates a pause and therefore emphasis upon 'raw' - creating a more disturbing image of the destructive, primitive nature of the Bird

Change in language as the bird takes flight - as the viewer changes their view of the bird

Aliteration

Assonance'O' and 'A' 's

Plashless - a less common word for Splashless

Imagery of  movement

Calm, Peaceful, Poetic

Metaphor

Smilie

Polite, less violent

Light hearted, conversational 

Poem

Technique