Poor restless dove, I pity thee;

And when I hear thy plaintive moan,
I mourn for thy captivity,
And in thy woes forget mine own.

To see thee stand prepared to fly,
And flap those useless wings of thine,
And gaze into the distant sky,
Would melt a harder heart than mine.

In vain—in vain! Thou canst not rise:
Thy prison roof confines thee there;
Its slender wires delude thine eyes,
And quench thy longings with despair.

Oh, thou wert made to wander free
In sunny mead and shady grove,
And, far beyond the rolling sea,
In distant climes, at will to rove!

Yet, hadst thou but one gentle mate
Thy little drooping heart to cheer,
And share with thee thy captive state,
Thou couldst be happy even there.

Yes, even there, if, listening by,
One faithful dear companion stood,
While gazing on her full bright eye,
Thou mightst forget thy native wood.

But thou, poor solitary dove,
Must make, unheard, thy joyless moan;
The heart, that Nature formed to love,
Must pine, neglected, and alone.

Identify the point of view of the narrator. Explain how the point of view affects the meaning of the text as a whole. Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

That's your assignment, which no one here will do for you.

What is YOUR QUESTION about YOUR assignment?

The point of view of the narrator in this poem is first-person. The narrator expresses their pity and empathy towards the dove, using personal pronouns such as "I" and "mine." The first-person point of view allows the reader to directly experience the emotions and thoughts of the narrator, creating a sense of intimacy and connection with the reader.

This point of view affects the meaning of the text by emphasizing the narrator's personal perspective and emotional response to the dove's captivity. The use of "I" and "mine" highlights the narrator's own understanding of suffering and their ability to empathize with the dove's plight. It also brings attention to the contrast between the narrator's own troubles and those of the dove, suggesting that even in their own difficulties, the narrator is able to empathize with others.

For example, the narrator says, "And in thy woes forget mine own." This shows how the narrator is able to momentarily forget their own problems and focus on the dove's suffering instead. The first-person point of view allows the reader to connect with the narrator's emotional journey and emphasizes the themes of empathy and compassion throughout the poem.