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Shelley observes that while humans can create poetry, our emotions, thoughts, and words are
often limited by earthly experiences. We struggle to express the fullness of joy, sorrow, or beauty
because language and life tie us down. But the skylark, unconstrained and free, seems to channel
the infinite. Shelley marvels at how the bird’s song “like a cloud of fire” ascends, and he longs to
capture even a fragment of this perfect, unrestrained expression in his poetry. Here, the skylark
becomes a symbol of the ideal poet: one whose creativity is boundless, spontaneous, and
intimately connected to the deepest joys and truths of existence.
Shelley also admires the skylark for its invisibility during its song. Humans often look for visible
forms and tangible proofs of beauty, yet the skylark sings from above, almost ethereal, leaving
only its melody behind. Similarly, Shelley suggests that the best poetry is not necessarily tied to
visible, material things. The poet, like the skylark, reaches beyond the ordinary, expressing ideas
and emotions that cannot always be seen but can be deeply felt. The skylark’s song becomes an
example of how the poet should strive to transcend ordinary limitations and touch the realm of
the sublime, where music, words, and thought meet in perfect harmony.
Let me tell you a little story to make this more vivid. Imagine a young boy who loves to draw.
Every day, he sketches birds, trees, and rivers, but he struggles to capture the feeling of freedom
he sees when a bird flies. One morning, he climbs a hill and watches a skylark darting through the
sky. The boy notices that the bird’s movement and song are not restricted by anything. Inspired,
he realizes that to capture that feeling in his drawings, he must let go of perfection and rules and
allow his imagination to soar freely. Just like the boy learning from the skylark, Shelley sees the
bird as a guide for poets: one must embrace freedom, spontaneity, and the boundless expression
of joy and creativity.
Another important aspect is how Shelley emphasizes the skylark’s natural, effortless perfection.
The bird sings without thinking of praise, reward, or even an audience. Shelley writes that the
skylark is “blithe” and “unconscious” of its own gift. In contrast, humans often struggle with self-
doubt, hesitation, and the need for recognition. A poet, inspired by the skylark, learns that true
artistry is not about seeking fame or approval but about expressing pure feeling honestly and
fearlessly. The skylark’s example encourages the poet to rise above self-consciousness and let
inspiration flow naturally, like a river unblocked by dams.
Shelley’s admiration of the skylark also includes the idea of immortality through creation. The
bird’s song is eternal in its essence because it exists beyond the mundane world—it is a part of
nature, the sky, and the air. For a poet, this is a powerful lesson: poetry, like the skylark’s song,
can achieve a kind of immortality. While human life is limited, the feelings, thoughts, and beauty
captured in poetry can reach beyond time and space, touching the hearts of generations to
come. The skylark’s flight and song inspire the poet to create works that aspire to this same
timeless quality.
Furthermore, Shelley draws attention to the contrast between the skylark and human beings. He
asks why humans, with all their intelligence, cannot sing with the same purity and intensity as
the bird. This comparison is not meant to belittle human effort but to highlight the ideal that
poets strive for: the ability to express truth, beauty, and joy with a clarity and intensity that