Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird Man and the Natural World Quotes Page 2

"Nobility" is a "civilized" characteristic. The highest activities of human culture, such as poetry and music, have traditionally been considered "noble." The blackbird's involvement in nobility and so-called "high" culture is meant to surprise us.

The "bawds of euphony" don't pay much attention to nature because it's too complex, chaotic, and ambiguous. But even they can't resist the arresting contrast between dark black and bright green.