# The Maryland Yellow-Throat explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Henry van Dyke Jr..

## What happens

The poem celebrates the arrival of spring and the song of the Maryland Yellow-Throat bird, whose call of 'witchery' evokes a sense of enchantment and longing for a beloved figure named Mary. The speaker imagines the bird as a messenger and yearns for Mary's presence to complete the beauty of the natural scene.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nature and Divine Beauty

The poem vividly describes the spring landscape, the bird's song, and the enchantment of the natural world.

### Love and Sacrifice

The speaker's longing for Mary reflects a deep affection and desire for her presence.

## Character check-ins

### Mary

The beloved figure whose presence is longed for to complete the spring scene.

### Unknown

The speaker who observes the bird and yearns for Mary.

## Key lines

> When May bedecks the naked trees With tassels and embroideries, And many blue-eyed violets beam Along the edges of the stream, I hear a voice that seems to say, Now near at hand, now far away, 'Witchery—witchery—witchery.'

In May, when the trees are adorned with new leaves and violets bloom by the stream, the speaker hears a bird's call that sounds like 'witchery.'

_The opening stanza sets the scene of spring and introduces the bird's magical song._

> If Mary were but here to-day, I would believe your charming lay, 'Witchery—witchery—witchery!'

The speaker says that if Mary were present, he would fully believe the bird's enchanting song.

_This line expresses the speaker's longing for Mary to complete the idyllic moment._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_10_se/chapters/the-maryland-yellow-throat
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_10_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_10_se/chapters