To a Waterfowl

by William Cullen Bryant

          Whither, 'midst falling dew,

While glow the heavens with the last steps of day,

Far, through their rosy depths, dost thou pursue

          Thy solitary way?

          Vainly the fowler’s eye

Might mark thy distant flight, to do thee wrong,

As, darkly seen against the crimson sky,

          Thy figure floats along.

          Seek’st thou the plashy brink

Of weedy lake, or marge of river wide,

Or where the rocking billows rise and sink

          On the chaféd ocean side?

          There is a Power, whose care

Teaches thy way along that pathless coast,—

The desert and illimitable air

          Lone wandering, but not lost.

          All day thy wings have fanned,

At that far height, the cold thin atmosphere;

Yet stoop not, weary, to the welcome land,

          Though the dark night is near.

          And soon that toil shall end,

Soon shalt thou find a summer home, and rest,

And scream among thy fellows; reeds shall bend,

          Soon, o’er thy sheltered nest.

       Thou’rt gone, the abyss of heaven

Hath swallowed up thy form, yet, on my heart

Deeply hath sunk the lesson thou hast given,

          And shall not soon depart.

          He, who, from zone to zone,

Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight,

In the long way that I must trace alone,

          Will lead my steps aright.

I liked this poem because of the detail of the story it tells. This poem contains vivid imagery and describes the scene in great detail. One reason I enjoyed this poem is because I like birds and the freedom that they represent. Also, I like the way that the author says that the bird does not know consciously where he is going, but that his instincts guide him. I like it when he says that because I feel like no one knows where they are going in life, but that the must be shown where to go through learning from their previous actions and experiences; this is how I learn in my own life. I am still looking for direction in my life just like the bird, but one day, I will reach where I fit instinctually just like him.

"Lone wandering, but not lost." 

I liked this line very much because it suggests that even though the bird is by himself, he knows where he is going, and where he wants to be. Also, this line shows that he is independent and has to find his way on his own. 

"Far, through their rosy depths, dost thou pursue, Thy solitary way?"
I liked this line because it made me picture the bird flying alone into the sunset. Also, it personifies the bird when it talks about it pursuing the solitary way, which gives me a personal connection to the bird.

"Though the dark night is near." 
I liked this line because I believe that it is saying that the birds journey is almost over, but that the roughest part is starting. Also, I like the lines after this that ties into this line, which say that the bird will enjoy himself and relax with his friends in the great land.