A Birthday
My heart is like a singing bird
Whose nest is in a watered shoot;
My heart is like an apple-tree
Whose boughs are bent with thickset fruit
My heart is like a rainbow shell
That paddles in a halcyon sea
My heart is gladder than all these
Because my love is come to me.
Raise me a dais of silk and down;
Hang it with vair and purple dyes;
Carve it in doves and pomegranates,
And peacocks with a hundred eyes;
Work it in gold and silver grapes,
In leaves and silver fleurs-de-lys;
Because the birthday of my life
Is come, my love is come to me.
Whose nest is in a watered shoot;
My heart is like an apple-tree
Whose boughs are bent with thickset fruit
My heart is like a rainbow shell
That paddles in a halcyon sea
My heart is gladder than all these
Because my love is come to me.
Raise me a dais of silk and down;
Hang it with vair and purple dyes;
Carve it in doves and pomegranates,
And peacocks with a hundred eyes;
Work it in gold and silver grapes,
In leaves and silver fleurs-de-lys;
Because the birthday of my life
Is come, my love is come to me.
Summary
Christina Rossetti depicts the preparations for the arrival of the love of the speaker in “A Birthday”. The speaker’s ecstasy and the preparations are shown through the use of selection of detail and simile.
Christina Rossetti depicts the preparations for the arrival of the love of the speaker in “A Birthday”. The speaker’s ecstasy and the preparations are shown through the use of selection of detail and simile.
First stanza
The fact that the speaker’s heart is compared to a “singing bird” through the use of simile shows that the speaker is happy, as singing birds normally connote happiness.
The fact that the bird’s nest is in a “watered shoot” shows that it is being well cared for and tended to. This is representative of the state of the speaker.
The fact that the metaphorical boughs of the speaker’s heart are “bent with thickset fruit” connotes lusciousness and richness.
The mention of a “rainbow shell” shows the speaker’s gay state of mind and the fact that it is paddling in a “halcyon sea” shows that the speaker is happy and peaceful.
The speaker mentions that she is happier than all of the descriptions that she stated previously and this only emphasizes how ecstatic she is.
The fact that the speaker’s heart is compared to a “singing bird” through the use of simile shows that the speaker is happy, as singing birds normally connote happiness.
The fact that the bird’s nest is in a “watered shoot” shows that it is being well cared for and tended to. This is representative of the state of the speaker.
The fact that the metaphorical boughs of the speaker’s heart are “bent with thickset fruit” connotes lusciousness and richness.
The mention of a “rainbow shell” shows the speaker’s gay state of mind and the fact that it is paddling in a “halcyon sea” shows that the speaker is happy and peaceful.
The speaker mentions that she is happier than all of the descriptions that she stated previously and this only emphasizes how ecstatic she is.
Second stanza
A “dais” is a low platform, usually for a throne. This connotes luxury and richness.
The mention of “vair” and “purple dyes” continues the motif of luxury.
“Doves” and “pomegranates” are both symbols of the Greek goddess Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love. This connotes love and infatuation and emphasizes how beautiful the things that the speaker is describing are.
The rest of the poem continues the previously established themes and motifs with other descriptions until the speaker’s love finally comes to her.
A “dais” is a low platform, usually for a throne. This connotes luxury and richness.
The mention of “vair” and “purple dyes” continues the motif of luxury.
“Doves” and “pomegranates” are both symbols of the Greek goddess Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love. This connotes love and infatuation and emphasizes how beautiful the things that the speaker is describing are.
The rest of the poem continues the previously established themes and motifs with other descriptions until the speaker’s love finally comes to her.