The REDBREAST and the BUTTERFLY. by William Wordsworth (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis)

 

The REDBREAST and the BUTTERFLY.

by William Wordsworth

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis) 

The REDBREAST and the BUTTERFLY

Art thou the Bird whom Man loves best,

The pious Bird with the scarlet breast,

Our little English Robin;

The Bird that comes about our doors

When Autumn winds are sobbing?

Art thou the Peter of Norway Boors?

Their Thomas in Finland,

And Russia far inland?

The Bird, whom by some name or other

All men who know thee call their Brother,

The Darling of Children and men?

Could Father Adam open his eyes,

And see this sight beneath the skies,

He'd wish to close them again.

 

If the Butterfly knew but his friend,

Hither his flight he would bend;

And find his way to me

Under the branches of the tree:

In and out, he darts about;

Can this be the Bird, to man so good,

That, after their bewildering,

Did cover with leaves the little children,

So painfully in the wood?

 

What ailed thee, Robin, that thou could'st pursue

A beautiful Creature,

That is gentle by nature?

Beneath the summer sky

From flower to flower let him fly;

'Tis all that he wishes to do.

The Cheerer Thou of our in-door sadness,

He is the Friend of our summer gladness:

What hinders, then, that ye should be

Playmates in the sunny weather,

And fly about in the air together!

His beautiful wings in crimson are drest,

A crimson as bright as thine own:

If thou would'st be happy in thy nest,

O pious Bird! whom Man loves best,

Love him, or leave him alone!

 

Summary

William Wordsworth’s poem The Redbreast and the Butterfly begins with an affectionate description of the robin, known in England as the bird most beloved by people. The poet recalls its scarlet breast and its close presence around human homes, especially in autumn when the winds are sorrowful. He emphasizes how universally cherished the robin is, being called by different names across Europe—“Peter” in Norway, “Thomas” in Finland, and even by affectionate titles in Russia. Everywhere, the robin is considered a brotherly creature, a companion to both children and adults. The poet even imagines that if Father Adam were to see the robin chasing a butterfly, he might regret witnessing such a scene, so unexpected and troubling it would be.

The scene then shifts to the butterfly. The poet muses that if the butterfly truly recognized the robin as a friend, it would not fear but would instead turn toward him. The butterfly, light and darting, moves in and out beneath the tree branches. Wordsworth then questions whether it can really be the same gentle robin—the bird so devoted to humans—that would now pursue such a harmless, delicate creature. He reminds the reader of the robin’s tender nature, recalling a tale where the bird covered children who died in the woods with leaves, offering them a form of care even after death.

The poet then directly addresses the robin, asking what compelled it to chase the butterfly. The butterfly is described as a gentle being, content to fly from flower to flower under the summer sky, asking nothing more than the freedom to live its brief life. The robin, meanwhile, is known for cheering human sadness indoors and bringing joy to summer days outdoors. Since both creatures bring delight and serve their own roles in nature and in the hearts of people, the poet questions why they should not instead be playmates together in the open air.

The poem ends by comparing their beauty: the butterfly’s crimson wings shine as brightly as the robin’s scarlet breast. The poet concludes with a gentle plea to the robin—that if it wishes to remain the much-loved and cherished bird of mankind, it should either befriend the butterfly or at least leave it alone.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

Stanza 1

Art thou the Bird whom Man loves best,

-> Are you the bird that humans love the most,

 

The pious Bird with the scarlet breast,

-> The devout little bird with a bright red chest,

 

Our little English Robin;

-> The robin that belongs to England,

 

The Bird that comes about our doors

-> The bird that appears near our homes

 

When Autumn winds are sobbing?

-> Especially when autumn winds blow sadly?

 

Art thou the Peter of Norway Boors?

-> Are you the bird that peasants in Norway call “Peter”?

 

Their Thomas in Finland,

-> And the one called “Thomas” in Finland,

 

And Russia far inland?

-> As well as in distant Russia?

 

The Bird, whom by some name or other

-> The bird that, by one name or another,

 

All men who know thee call their Brother,

-> Is regarded as a brother by all who know you,

 

The Darling of Children and men?

-> The beloved companion of both children and adults?

 

Could Father Adam open his eyes,

-> If Adam, the first man, could open his eyes,

 

And see this sight beneath the skies,

-> And witness what is happening here on earth,

 

He'd wish to close them again.

-> He would want to close them again out of sadness.

 

Stanza 2

If the Butterfly knew but his friend,

-> If the butterfly recognized the robin as a friend,

 

Hither his flight he would bend;

-> He would fly this way toward him;

 

And find his way to me

-> And make his way to where I am,

 

Under the branches of the tree:

-> Beneath the branches of the tree;

 

In and out, he darts about;

-> Instead, he flits restlessly here and there;

 

Can this be the Bird, to man so good,

-> Can it really be the same robin, so kind to humans,

 

That, after their bewildering,

-> Who, after children were lost and confused,

 

Did cover with leaves the little children,

-> Covered the little children with leaves,

 

So painfully in the wood?

-> When they lay dead in the woods?

 

Stanza 3

What ailed thee, Robin, that thou could'st pursue

-> What troubled you, Robin, that you would chase

 

A beautiful Creature,

-> Such a beautiful little being,

 

That is gentle by nature?

-> Who is naturally harmless and gentle?

 

Beneath the summer sky

-> Under the warm summer sky

 

From flower to flower let him fly;

-> Let him move freely from flower to flower;

 

'Tis all that he wishes to do.

-> That is all he desires in life.

 

The Cheerer Thou of our in-door sadness,

-> You, Robin, who cheer our sorrow inside the house,

 

He is the Friend of our summer gladness:

-> While the butterfly is a companion to our summer joy:

 

What hinders, then, that ye should be

-> So what prevents the two of you from being

 

Playmates in the sunny weather,

-> Playmates together in the sunshine,

 

And fly about in the air together!

-> And fly joyfully side by side in the air?

 

Stanza 4

His beautiful wings in crimson are drest,

-> The butterfly’s wings are beautifully clothed in crimson,

 

A crimson as bright as thine own:

-> As bright a red as your breast, Robin:

 

If thou would'st be happy in thy nest,

-> If you want to remain content in your nest,

 

O pious Bird! whom Man loves best,

-> O devout bird, whom humans cherish most,

 

Love him, or leave him alone!

-> Then either love the butterfly, or at least leave him unharmed!

 

Analysis in Detail

William Wordsworth’s poem The Redbreast and the Butterfly is a reflective piece that combines storytelling, moral questioning, and gentle admonition, using two small creatures of nature—the robin and the butterfly—as central figures. Through their interaction, the poet highlights themes of innocence, kindness, and the harmony that ought to exist within creation.

The poem begins by situating the robin in a position of high regard. Wordsworth carefully emphasizes the robin’s reputation as one of the most beloved birds in England and beyond. It is not simply admired for its bright scarlet breast but also cherished as a bird that lives close to human beings, appearing near homes during the melancholy season of autumn. Wordsworth notes that different nations, from Norway to Finland to Russia, call it by familiar names, demonstrating how universal its charm is. The robin is described as the “Darling of Children and men,” symbolizing its intimate connection with humanity. By establishing this background, Wordsworth creates an expectation of innocence and piety associated with the bird. Thus, when the robin is seen chasing a butterfly, the poet frames it as a contradiction, almost an offense against the bird’s gentle reputation.

In the next movement of the poem, the poet turns to the butterfly, portraying it as fragile, harmless, and carefree. Its darting flight among flowers represents a natural freedom that poses no threat to anyone. The poet draws upon a familiar tale of the robin’s kindness—how it once covered the bodies of dead children with leaves in the forest—reminding the reader of the bird’s historic role as a guardian. Against this backdrop of benevolence, the act of pursuing the butterfly appears shocking and out of character. The question is raised: how could the bird that comforts human sadness and symbolizes gentleness turn predator toward another innocent creature?

The central section of the poem takes the form of a direct address to the robin, as if Wordsworth were reproaching it. He asks what could have driven the bird to chase a creature so harmless and beautiful. The butterfly’s only wish is to enjoy the summer air, to flit freely from flower to flower. It neither threatens nor competes with the robin. In fact, Wordsworth presents them as complementary beings: the robin brings joy to people indoors, particularly in times of sorrow, while the butterfly brightens their outdoor summer happiness. Since both play their parts in uplifting human spirits, the poet questions why they should not simply share the skies as companions. Here, Wordsworth introduces a moral principle: when beings bring delight and serve goodness in their own ways, there should be no hostility between them.

The final stanza shifts toward reconciliation and advice. Wordsworth points out the beauty that both creatures share. The butterfly’s wings are crimson, just like the robin’s breast, and therefore the two are reflections of each other in nature. The poet concludes with a simple moral lesson: if the robin wishes to maintain its reputation as the pious bird beloved of humankind, it must learn either to love the butterfly or, at the very least, leave it in peace. The tone is gentle rather than harsh, urging kindness and harmony rather than condemning the bird outright.

Overall, the poem is more than a picture of a robin chasing a butterfly—it is a meditation on the responsibilities of creatures, including humans, to live in peace and avoid harming the innocent. Wordsworth elevates the small incident into a symbolic reflection on harmony within creation. His gentle rebuke of the robin serves as a broader call for compassion, coexistence, and respect for life’s delicate forms.