This is a famous poem by Shelley. Shelly hails the skylark, a bird of music and joy. Its music is sweet because it has had no unpleasant experiences. On the other hand man's life to have even half of sorrows. Man struggles, suffers and sheds tears throughout his life. The poet would like to have even half of the skylark's charm so that he may also sing joyfully and charm the whole world.
'To a skylark' is the best lyric of Shelley. It expresses Shelley's joy on hearing the song of the skylark. The song of the bird arouses certain thoughts and feelings in the poet. He feels that the skylark stands for poetic imagination. It is the poetic spirit in the form of a bird.
The skylark which has risen to the sky sings in a natural way. It is not a bird but a spirit of delight.It sings while it flies upwards and goes on flying while it sings. It flies in the golden light of the sunset like a spirit of delight which has just started its race of life It is not seen like the morning star in the daylight. But its presence can be felt by its sharp music.
It is known what the skylark is. The shower of music dropped by the skylark is better then rain drops fallen from the cloud. Its music spreads in the sky like the light of the moon covered with clouds. The skylark is more like a spirit than a bird. Shelley compares the skylark to a love-sick girl who consoles her love-sick heart by sweet music. The skylark is not seen like the glow-worm. The light of the glow-worm can be seen. In the same way the music of the skylark can also be heard. The skylark can be further compared to the rose that makes the wind heavy with its sweet smell. The songs of the skylark are sweeter than the songs of marriage and victory. The joy given by the songs of the skylark neither changes nor grows dull. The poet believes that the song of the skylark is superior to the human songs. Its song is better than the songs of love,marriage,victory or wine.
The poet wants to know what thoughts and object inspire the happy song of the skylark. He feels that its song arises out of the bird's ignorance of death and pain. The skylark has no worries. It knows love. But it does not know the over-satisfaction which accompanies the over-fulfilment of love. The skylark dreams of deeper things about death. Man is sad because he remembers his past and looks forward to the future. The happy skylark is quite free from the worries of the world.
Shelley is keen to learn the secret of the skylark's happiness. He feels that the song of the skylark is better than all knowledge found in books. He will feels highly inspired if he could get even half the happiness of the skylark. Then he too would produce music that will be heard by all the world.
(P.B. SHELLEY)
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