Summary Of William Cullen Bryant's To A Waterfowl

In reading William Cullen Bryant’s three poems in chronological sequence, I observed a slight and yet significant change in his beliefs regarding spirituality. It appears, Bryant’s thoughts regarding death become more spiritual and mellowed as time passes. As an example, in the first poem by Bryant “Thanatopsis”, his writings are much more matter of fact almost brazen. Bryant writes about tree roots invading your grave and possibly not finding the eternal resting place you may envision. Generally speaking, do not expect a spiritual afterlife. However, Bryant was only 17 when he wrote “Thanatopsis”, many teens have a dark view of death. “To a Waterfowl”, brings forth a deeper spirituality in Bryant’s poetry. Here is an example from William
Cullen Bryant’s “To a Waterfowl”: There is a Power, whose care teaches thy way along that pathless coast. He writing still has a strong connection to nature, but has brought a higher being in the mix. By the same token, this higher being is more prominent in the last poem “The Flood of Years”, that was written when Bryant was approximately 82 years old. It is my belief, as people age, we want to believe in an afterlife. We want to give credence to the belief all the good accomplishments you have on earth, will follow you into an afterlife. All things considered, his later views fit into my beliefs on a life after death. We will never know we can only have faith.