Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Come Morning" by John Ciardi is a vibrant and animated poem that captures the essence of a new day through the metaphorical competition between a young rooster ("a young cock in his plebe strut") and the sun ("the damned Daddy-Colonel of them all"). Through lively imagery, personification, and playful language, Ciardi explores themes of nature, ambition, rivalry, and the cyclical nature of life.

The poem begins with the young rooster, full of youthful ambition and eagerness, as he prepares himself for the daily ritual of announcing the dawn. This rooster, in his "plebe strut," is depicted as a military figure, ready to command his "blazed regiments eastward," signaling the start of a new day. The use of military imagery imbues the scene with a sense of order and duty, casting the rooster's crow as a ceremonial act that heralds the morning.

Ciardi humorously acknowledges the rooster's efforts, noting that while not yet perfect, his attempts are commendable for his willingness. This encouragement is quickly overshadowed by the arrival of the sun, described as "the damned Daddy-Colonel of them all," which appears with overwhelming force and brilliance, likened to "a flaming umbrella in a high wind." The sun's grandeur and authority dwarf the young rooster's attempts at heralding the dawn, sending him scurrying away in defeat, "running like any civilian with hot hell on his tail."

The poem takes a comedic turn as the sun, having established its dominance, is personified with a sense of pomp and self-importance. It "struts posh as the dream of horse guards" and positions itself "like Victoria's best bustle," before confidently declaring the official start of the morning with "the right high hot sound for it." This moment captures the inevitable triumph of the sun in marking the beginning of the day, relegating the rooster's role to that of a rehearsal or prelude to the main event.

"Come Morning" is rich in its playful portrayal of the natural world and the interactions within it. Ciardi's poem is not just a humorous account of a rooster's attempt to herald the dawn; it's also a reflection on the rhythms of nature, the inevitability of certain outcomes, and the roles that different creatures play in the larger tapestry of life. Through the interaction between the rooster and the sun, Ciardi highlights the beauty and predictability of the natural order, reminding readers of the simple, yet profound, occurrences that mark the passage of time and the beginning of each new day.

Ultimately, "Come Morning" celebrates the arrival of morning with whimsy and joy, inviting readers to appreciate the daily renewal that comes with each sunrise and the small, yet significant, rituals that accompany the start of a new day.

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