Ans: The melodious song of the skylark is superior to all songs of man. Sensuous enjoyment and ecstasy of love are the two powerful sources of inspiration to human poetry. Love songs and songs in praise of wine are the sweetest of human songs. But these are surpassed by the skylark’s song: “I have never heard/ Praise of love or wine /That panted forth a flood of rapture so divine.” Again, wedding songs and songs in celebration of victory are nothing compared to the song of the skylark. In these earthly songs we always feel the absence of perfection. The song of the skylark is pierced with a keen sense of joyousness. It has no sense of languor and annoyance. It knows the mystery of life and death. Hence, the song of the bird is clear, fresh and melodious — “thy notes flow in such a crystal stream”. Human songs are also characterized by inherent sadness. Man’s sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thoughts – “Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought.” But the skylark is eternally joyous and its song is the expression of ideal joy and beauty. Shelley also points put that more than the delightful music of the earthly people or the wisdom stored in the books the lark’s music is source of inspiration to the poet:
“Better than all measures
Of delightful sound,
Better than all treasures
That in books are found,
Thy skill to poet were, thou scorner of the ground!”
The skill of singing enjoyed by the skylark is greater than and superior to that of the poet.
