Text of the Poem
I caught this morning morning's minion, king-
dom of daylight's dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding
Of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding
High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing
In his ecstasy! then off, off forth on swing,
As a skate's heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend: the hurl and gliding
Rebuffed the big wind. My heart in hiding
Stirred for a bird, —the achieve of, the mastery of the thing!
Brute beauty and valour and act, oh, air, pride, plume, here
Buckle! AND the fire that breaks from thee then, a billion
Times told lovelier, more dangerous, O my chevalier!
No wonder of it: shéer plód makes plough down sillion
Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear,
Fall, gall themselves, and gash gold-vermilion.
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— Allegra Keys, Owl Eyes Editor
The poem shifts to a more reflective tone here, suggesting that even mundane, everyday work can result in brilliance, akin to ploughing a the French word for a "furrow” (sillion) and making it shine.
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— Allegra Keys, Owl Eyes Editor
This line expresses the idea that the beauty and danger of the windhover surpass any number of repetitions. The term "chevalier" (French for knight) suggests a chivalrous or heroic quality.
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— Allegra Keys, Owl Eyes Editor
In this line, the poet's emotions are stirred as he observes the windhover, suggesting a deep and personal connection to the bird's beauty.
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— Allegra Keys, Owl Eyes Editor
"Dauphin” is the historical way of referring to the King of France's son. This line uses "dauphin” as a metaphor to describe the windhover as the prince or heir of daylight, reinforcing the bird's regal and majestic qualities.
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— Allegra Keys, Owl Eyes Editor
The use of enjambment throughout most of this poem allows ideas to flow seamlessly from one line to the next.
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— Allegra Keys, Owl Eyes Editor
The opening refers to the windhover (a small falcon) as a servant or follower of the morning, highlighting its association with the early hours and suggesting a connection to divine creation.