Cuckoo-Katharine Tynan

CUCKOO

His voice runs before me; I follow, it flies;

It is now in the meadow, and now in the skies;

So blithesome, so lightsome, now distant, now

here

And when he calls 'Cuckoo,' the summer is near.

He calls back the roses, red roses that went

At the first blast of winter, so sad and for spent,

With dew in their bosoms, young roses and dear,

And when he calls 'Cuckoo,' the summer is near.

I would twine him a gold cage, but what would

he do

For his world of the emerald, his bath In the blue,

And his wee feathered comrades to make him good cheer?

And when he calls 'Cuckoo,' the summer is near.

Now, blackbird, give over your harping of gold!

Brown thrush and green linne, your music with-

hold!

The flutes of the forest are silver and clear,

But when he calls 'Cuckoo,' the summer is here 

KATHARINE TYNAN

Summary: The poem 'Cuckoo' by Katharine Tynan celebrates the arrival of summer through the recurring call of the cuckoo bird. The narrator describes the bird's melodic voice as it moves through various landscapes, from meadows to the skies. The cuckoo's call serves as a joyful herald, signaling the imminent arrival of summer.

The poet emphasizes the transformative power of the cuckoo's call, noting how it brings back the vibrant red roses that had withered away in the harshness of winter. The cuckoo's song is portrayed as a magical force that rejuvenates nature, infusing life and colour into the world.

There's a sense of admiration for the cuckoo's freedom, with the narrator contemplating the inadequacy of a gold cage for such a bird. The cuckoo's natural habitat, described as a world of emerald and bathed in blue, is essential for its well-being. The poem suggests that the cuckoo's song is not only a harbinger of summer but also a reflection of the bird's connection to its idyllic surroundings.

Towards the end, the poet playfully instructs other birds, such as the blackbird, brown thrush, and green linnet, to withhold their music. The cuckoo's call is portrayed as the definitive signal that summer has arrived, and even the enchanting music of other birds takes a backseat when the cuckoo makes its presence known.

In essence, 'Cuckoo' captures the enchantment and vitality associated with the arrival of summer, using the call of the cuckoo as a central motif to evoke the beauty and transformative power of the season.