With Birds You’re Never Lonely by Raymond Antrobus is a poem that explores the speaker’s profound connection with nature and the contrasting urban world. The poem conveys the transformative power of silence in the midst of a New Zealand forest. The couplets describe the solace and companionship that the poet receives from the harmonious birdsongs. The poem’s intent is to emphasize the importance of the human-nature relationship, urging readers to appreciate the sanctuary that nature offers amidst the chaos of city life. 

The poem is composed of couplets, with a notable exception in the final line. This structural choice creates a sense of regularity and rhythm, echoing the constancy of the natural world celebrated in the poem. The solitary single line at the end serves as a striking departure from this pattern, prompting readers to ponder a potential shift in the poem’s message. 

With Birds You’re Never Lonely | Summary & Analysis

Context & Background 

Raymond Antrobus is a British poet born in Hackney, London, in 1986. Antrobus’s own experience with hearing loss, which was not discovered until he was six years old, shapes the thematic elements of sound and silence prevalent in the poem. This personal aspect of his identity informs his exploration of sound, silence, and the natural world in his poetry. His journey of learning sign language and navigating the world of spoken words informs his keen sensitivity to auditory experiences.

Antrobus’s background as the child of a Jamaican father and an English mother adds a cultural dimension to his poetry. The poem introduces and describes New Zealand’s Zelandia forest, a location known for its rich biodiversity and natural beauty. Antrobus’s poem reflects an awareness of the cultural and environmental significance of such places. It also introduces cultural elements, such as the encounter with the young Maori woman, which emphasizes the importance of cultural knowledge and traditions.

 

With Birds You’re Never Lonely | Analysis, Lines 1-2

I can’t hear the barista

over the coffee machine.

In the opening lines, the speaker conveys his difficulty in hearing the barista due to the noisy coffee machine in a café. The cacophony of the coffee machine drowns out the barista’s words. The poet employs auditory imagery to vividly describe the noisy environment of the café, readers can visualize a bustling cafe muffled voice of the barista, helping to immerse themselves in the setting the poet describes. The couplet sets the stage for further thematic exploration.

The coffee machine may also be seen as a metaphor for the distractions and hectic nature of modern life, which often hinders the ability to connect with others.

With Birds You’re Never Lonely | Analysis, Lines 3-9

Spoons slam, steam rises.

I catch the eye of a man

sitting in the corner

of the cafe reading alone

about trees which is, incidentally,

all I can think about

since returning.

In this stanza, the speaker continues to describe his experience in the noisy café. He observes the clattering of spoons and the rising steam from the coffee machine. Amid this loud environment, the speaker makes eye contact with a man who is sitting alone in a corner of the café, engrossed in reading a book about trees. This observation prompts the speaker to reflect on his own preoccupation with thoughts of trees since his return.

The stanza opens with sensory imagery. The “spoons slam” and “steam rises” evoke a vivid and bustling café atmosphere. The contrast between the noisy café and the solitary man reading about trees is noteworthy, as it highlights the speaker’s desire for tranquillity and connection with nature amidst the urban chaos. The man is characterized as someone who seeks solace and connection with nature through literature. The use of enjambment, where lines flow into one another without punctuation, creates a sense of continuity and fluidity between the couplets may be seen as mirroring the constant activity in the café.

With Birds You’re Never Lonely | Analysis, Lines 10-14

Last week I sat alone

on a stump, deep in Zelandia forest

with sun-syrupped Kauri trees

and brazen Tui birds with white tufts

and yellow and black beaks.

Continuing from the previous stanza, the speaker reflects on a recent experience that has made an everlasting impression leading to his insatiable want to be immersed in nature. This provides a stark contrast to his present where he sits at an unsettling and boisterous cafe. He recalls a moment from the previous week when they were alone, sitting on a tree stump in the depths of the Zelandia forest. 

These lines are abundant with vivid sensory imagery. The phrase “sun-syrupped Kauri trees” paints a picture of trees bathed in warm, golden sunlight, emphasizing the serene and inviting nature of the forest. The description of the Tui birds with their “white tufts” and “yellow and black beaks” provides a clear and colourful mental image of the birds.

The alliteration in “sun-syrupped” and “stump” and the repetition of “yellow and black” create a sense of rhythm and musicality in the poem, enhancing its sensory appeal. These linguistic devices also draw attention to the beauty of the natural world. 

The choice of a tree stump as the place where the speaker sits is symbolic. Tree stumps are remnants of trees that once stood tall, representing both the passage of time and the interconnectedness of all living things. The act of sitting on a stump may suggest a desire to connect with the natural world and to be grounded in it. The recollection of this moment in the forest indicates a sense of nostalgia and longing, the lines are also describing his yearning to relive the experience. 

With Birds You’re Never Lonely | Analysis, Lines 15-16

They landed by my feet, blaring so loudly

I had to turn off my hearing aids.

In these lines, the speaker describes a significant moment during their time in the Zelandia forest. While sitting alone on a tree stump, the speaker is visited by Tui birds, which land by their feet. These birds emit such loud and melodious calls that the speaker finds it necessary to turn off their hearing aids to cope with the intensity of the birdsong.

The poet describes this moment as one that reflects his full appreciation for the melodies gifted by nature. The act of turning off the hearing aids is significant. It represents a desire to engage with nature on a more profound and sensory level, bypassing the artificial filters imposed by technology. Tui birds can be seen as symbols of nature’s voices that can be overpowering but also deeply enriching.

With Birds You’re Never Lonely | Analysis, Lines 17-20

When all sound disappeared, I was tuned

into a silence that was not an absence.

As I switched sound on again,

silence collapsed.

The lines begin with a paradoxical description of silence. The speaker notes that when he turned off his hearing aids, he entered a silence that was not mere absence but something more profound. This idea challenges the conventional notion of silence as the absence of sound. Instead, it suggests that true silence can be a presence in itself, a space where one can truly immerse oneself devoid of any external distractions.

This stanza marks a transformative moment in the poem. The act of turning off the hearing aids represents a deliberate choice to disconnect from the external world, providing the speaker with an opportunity to delve into a deeper level of consciousness and awareness.

Silence represents the speaker’s search for inner peace, connection with nature, and the desire to escape the noise and chaos of the urban environment.

Raymond Antrobus’s personal experience with hearing loss and the use of hearing aids likely informs these descriptions. It allows him to convey the significance of moments of silence and their transformative power through his personal experiences. 

With Birds You’re Never Lonely | Analysis, Lines 21-24

The forest spat all the birds back,

and I was jealous— 

the earthy Kauri trees, their endless

brown and green trunks of sturdiness.

After experiencing a profound silence and connection with nature, the speaker witnesses the return of the birds to the forest. This event triggers feelings of jealousy in the speaker as he contemplates the strength and endurance of the Kauri trees, with their unending brown and green trunks.

The lines begin with personification as the forest is described as if it has a living presence. The idea that the forest “spat all the birds back” imbues it with a sense of agency and power, suggesting a dynamic relationship between nature and its inhabitants.

The speaker’s jealousy upon seeing the birds return is significant, as it represents a complex emotional response to the natural world. The return of the birds may symbolize a sense of belonging and continuity in the forest, something the speaker longs for in his own life. 

The description of the Kauri trees as “earthy” and possessing “endless brown and green trunks of sturdiness” is rich in sensory and visual imagery. These trees are portrayed as symbols of resilience and permanence in the natural world. Their “sturdiness” contrasts with the speaker’s own sense of fragility in the face of urban life. The return of the birds and the enduring Kauri trees can also suggest the symbolic nature of the eternal and cyclical nature of the natural world. It contrasts with the transitory and often chaotic nature of human existence especially in urban settings.

With Birds You’re Never Lonely | Analysis, Lines 25-26

I wondered what the trees would say about us?

What books would they write if they had to cut us down?

The speaker employs interrogative couplets to express curiosity and contemplation about the perspective of trees in the forest. He wondered what the trees would say or write about humanity if they could speak or compose books. 

The stanza employs personification, attributing human characteristics of speech and writing to the trees. This literary device allows the speaker to explore the idea of trees having a voice or perspective, enhancing the depth of their contemplation.

The couplet can be interpreted metaphorically. The trees symbolize the silent witnesses of human activity and environmental change. The speaker’s curiosity about what the trees would say or write underscores an environmental consciousness. It suggests a recognition of the impact of human actions on the natural world and a desire to bridge the gap between humanity and nature.

With Birds You’re Never Lonely | Analysis, Lines 27-30

Later, stumbling from the forest I listened

to a young Maori woman.

She could tell which bird chirped,

a skill she learned from her grandfather

The speaker now describes an encounter that occurs after leaving the forest, with a young Maori woman who possesses a remarkable talent passed down by her grandfather. The mention of the young Maori woman and her ability to identify birds by their chirps introduces a cultural element to the poem. The Maori people of New Zealand have a deep connection with nature, and their traditions often involve a profound understanding of the natural world. This adds a layer of cultural richness to the poem.

The fact that the young woman learned this skill from her grandfather highlights the importance of intergenerational knowledge and the passing down of traditions. It speaks to the idea that knowledge of the natural world can be a valuable inheritance, while also conveying how the need to listen is pertinent in understanding nature. 

With Birds You’re Never Lonely | Analysis, Lines 31-34

who said with birds you’re never lonely.

In that moment I felt sorry

for any grey tree in London,

for the family they don’t have,

The poet reflects on a statement made by the young Maori woman “with birds you’re never lonely.” This statement deeply resonates with the speaker, leading him to feel a sense of compassion and sadness for the gray trees in London. 

The “grey tree in London” can be interpreted symbolically. It represents the disconnection from nature and the lack of companionship or “family” that can be experienced in urban environments. In contrast, the forest and its birds offer a sense of belonging and connection. It highlights the isolation and loneliness that can be prevalent in urban settings, contrasting it with the sense of community and connection found in nature, and inviting readers to consider the importance of preserving our relationship with the natural world.

With Birds You’re Never Lonely | Analysis, Line 35

the Gods they can’t hold.

In the final line of the poem, the speaker reflects on the limitations of the grey trees in London. The line employs metaphor by suggesting that nature holds or contains the gods. Here, “the gods” likely symbolize the spiritual or divine aspects of the natural world. The idea that nature can “hold” the gods implies that it is a vessel of spirituality and wonder.

The line touches upon the broader theme of spiritual connection with nature. It suggests that the natural world, including the trees and birds, is imbued with a sense of the divine or sacred. The inability of the grey trees in London to “hold” the gods implies that such a connection may be more profound with trees in a natural setting.

As the final line of the poem, this phrase offers a sense of closure and reflection encapsulating the elusive and transcendent quality of nature’s spiritual essence. It invites readers to ponder the profound and uncontainable aspects of the natural world.

 

 

With Birds You’re Never Lonely | Themes

Identity 

The encounter with the young Maori woman who can identify birds by their chirps highlights cultural identity. Her skill and connection to nature are rooted in her Maori heritage, emphasizing the importance of cultural traditions in shaping one’s identity.

The speaker’s identity is influenced by their own experiences and background. Raymond Antrobus, who has experienced hearing loss, likely brings his own identity into the poem. The speaker’s yearning for a deeper connection with nature and their sensitivity to sound reflect elements of Antrobus’s personal identity. The poem also explores the idea that a person’s identity is intertwined with their relationship with their environment. The poetry thus also resonates with the speaker’s connection with nature and the longing for solitude and companionship heightening his sense of self. 

Home

The forest and its natural elements, such as the Kauri trees and Tui birds, serve as a home for the speaker. These natural spaces provide a sense of belonging, solace, and familiarity that contrasts with the alienation often experienced in urban areas.

The knowledge and skills of the Mairi woman as described by the poet represent a cultural home rooted in the natural world.

The poem suggests that the natural world, with its sounds and rhythms, offers an emotional home for the speaker. It is a place where he finds solace and a sense of identity, which contrasts with the disconnection, loneliness and hectic lifestyle often associated with urban life.

Nature

The forest and its elements, including the Kauri trees and Tui birds, serve as a sanctuary for the speaker. They provide a respite from the noise and chaos of the urban world and offer a sense of peace and connection. The speaker’s ability to turn off his hearing aids and immerse themselves in the sounds of the natural world underscores the idea that nature can offer a unique form of comfort and meditative silence, healing individuals. The mention of “the gods” in the final line suggests that nature has a spiritual dimension. The poet believed that nature is a realm that transcends the human experience, emphasizing its role as a source of wonder and spiritual connection.