Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

A BARRED OWL, by RICHARD WILBUR Recitation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography

"A Barred Owl" is a poem written by Richard Wilbur, an American poet, in 1975. The poem is one of his most famous works and has been widely anthologized. The poem is a meditation on the relationship between the natural world and human civilization.

Explanation:

The poem begins with a child being put to bed by his parents. The child is scared and cannot sleep because of the strange sounds he hears outside. The parents try to reassure the child that the sounds are just harmless noises made by the natural world. The child is still afraid, so the father goes outside to investigate the sounds. The father discovers that the noise is being made by a barred owl, which is hooting in the trees. The father explains to the child that the owl is just another creature in the natural world and that there is no need to be afraid.

Poetic Elements:

Rhyme Scheme: The poem has a regular rhyme scheme of ABABCDCD.
Meter: The poem is written in iambic pentameter.
Imagery: The poem is rich in vivid, sensory imagery that helps to create a sense of the natural world.

Conclusion:

"A Barred Owl" is a beautifully crafted poem that explores the relationship between human civilization and the natural world. The poem suggests that there is a deep connection between the two and that they are not mutually exclusive. The poem also suggests that there is a need for humans to understand and appreciate the natural world in order to live in harmony with it. Through its masterful use of language and imagery, the poem invites the reader to consider their own relationship with the natural world and to reflect on the importance of living in harmony with it.

Poem Snippet:

The warping night air having brought the boom

Of an owl's voice into her darkened room,

We tell the wakened child that all she heard

Was an odd question from a forest bird