The Thrush’s Nest
by John Clare
Within a thick and spreading hawthorn bush That overhung a molehill large and round, I heard from morn to morn a merry thrush Sing hymns to sunrise, and I drank the sound With joy; and often, an intruding guest, I watched her secret toil from day to day How true she warped the moss to form a nest, And modelled it within with wood and clay; And by and by, like heath-bells gilt¹ with dew, There lay her shining eggs, as bright as flowers, Ink-spotted over shells of greeny blue; And there I witnessed, in the sunny hours, A brood of nature’s minstrels chirp and fly, Glad as the sunshine and the laughing sky.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer would be “The Thrush’s Nest” is a poem by John Clare that vividly describes the nesting process of a thrush, the bird’s work on creating her nest, and the beauty of nature.
The poem takes place in a natural setting where the narrator observes the thrush’s daily efforts. The thick hawthorn bush over a molehill serves as the backdrop for the bird’s activities. Clare uses rich imagery to highlight the joy he finds in the sounds of the thrush’s songs, which are described as hymns to sunrise. These hymns are a metaphor for the natural music of the world, adding a layer of spiritual significance to the bird’s actions.
Clare pays close attention to the bird’s labor as she “warps the moss” to build her nest. This part of the poem emphasizes the thrush’s skill and dedication to her task. The nest is not only a physical creation but also an emblem of life and care, constructed with materials like moss, wood, and clay. Clare’s description of the eggs is equally striking, with the “ink-spotted over shells of greeny blue” giving the eggs an almost magical appearance, like jewels in a natural world.
The final lines capture the joy and beauty of life in nature as the brood of young thrushes grows and flies. The thrushes, described as “nature’s minstrels,” are a celebration of the simple, pure happiness found in nature. Their chirping and flying in the sunlight reflect the harmonious relationship between living creatures and the environment.
In this poem, Clare conveys themes of creation, life, and natural beauty, using vivid imagery to make the natural world come alive. The thrush’s nest becomes a symbol of care, labor, and the cycle of life in the natural world.