Poetry · Chapter
Cock-Crow explained
The poem describes the moment of dawn when the crowing of two cocks cuts through the darkness, heralding the arrival of light and the start of the day's work, as milkers prepare at the farms.
What happens
The poem describes the moment of dawn when the crowing of two cocks cuts through the darkness, heralding the arrival of light and the start of the day's work, as milkers prepare at the farms.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional peak occurs when the speaker, despite physical pain from the storm, experiences a transcendent m…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Nature and the Seasons
The poem centers on the natural phenomenon of dawn and the crowing of cocks.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The speaker observes the dawn and the cocks crowing.
Key passages
“Out of the wood of thoughts that grows by night To be cut down by the sharp axe of light”
From the dense, dark thoughts of night that are dispelled by the sudden brightness of dawn.
The imagery contrasts the darkness of night with the sharp, cutting light of morning.
“two cocks together crow, Cleaving the darkness with a silver blow”
Two roosters crow in unison, splitting the darkness with a bright, metallic sound.
The crowing is depicted as a forceful, almost physical act that breaks the night.
“The milkers lace their boots up at the farms.”
Farm workers begin their day by putting on their boots to milk the cows.
This line grounds the poem in rural life and the start of daily labor.
