The Seasons
Traditional Japanese haikus include a "season word," or kigo, that indicates the time ago. Usually the season is implied by words like "blossom" (spring) and "snowy" (winter). "Thirteen Ways of Loo...
Indecisiveness
The poem features several examples of confused or disoriented humans. The relationship between their indecisiveness and the blackbird remains a mystery. For the speaker, at least, the inability to...
People
Our feathered friend is the true star of the poem, and people make only random, mysterious appearances. The speaker scolds those unappreciative "men of Haddam," makes fun of the "bawds of euphony,"...
Imagining the Blackbird
Well, the title pretty much says it all. The poem is about different ways to look at this bird, and several of them are highly symbolic and imaginative. The bird is basically an excuse for Stevens...