Stormcock in Elder Summary & Analysis
by Ruth Pitter

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"Stormcock in Elder," first published in 1934, is one of the best-known poems by English writer Ruth Pitter. A traditionalist whose work employs classic meters and verse forms, Pitter published 18 volumes of poetry over a 70-year career, and was the first woman to receive the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry. "Stormcock in Elder" is an ode to the mistle thrush, a bird that gets its nickname of "stormcock" based on the fact that it sings even in bad weather. This quality stirs the speaker of the poem's faith. "Stormcock in Elder" is an excellent example of the spiritual and rural focus of Pitter's poetry, relying on vivid imagery of the natural world in order to convey its speaker's transformative religious awakening upon hearing the bird's song.

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