With Birds You’re Never Lonely Flashcards
“The forest spat all the birds back”
Plosives here show the true power of nature again, mimicking the abruptness of the action. It is almost violent. ‘Spat’ indicates a derision or anger, but also a power beyond human comprehension. This depiction of nature’s overwhelming power highlights humanity’s disconnection from the natural world and the sense of isolation it can create. It personifies the forest, indicating that nature has a consciousness that we cannot understand. It is truly powerful.
“I felt sorry for any grey tree in London”
Western life is colourless and bleak, there is an absence in the Western world and through our lack of connection with nature we are draining ourselves of all joy and happiness. ‘Grey’ reinforces the idea of lifelessness and monotony. Contrasting his time in New Zealand which highlights the significance of connection with nature. Nature is an escape from the urbanisation in London.
“For the family they don’t have, the Gods they can’t hold”
The poem ends pessimistically (no hope) ; the word ‘can’t’ conveys an irreversible loss rather than a temporary absence, showing we have simply lost that ability in Capitalist, Western countries to feel the true importance of nature and allow it to bring us closer to God. It forces us to consider the legacy we are leaving behind and the erosion of traditional reverence for nature we are causing.
