# Birds — Poetry character guide

> Birds in Poetry by George MacDonald.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0005-a-book-of-dreams

## Who they are

Collective personified birds, often singing.

## In the story

### [The Tree’s Prayer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters/the-tree-s-prayer)

Birds are remembered as joy-frantic and as the tongues of mute trees, part of the tree's longing for spring.

### [The Thankless Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters/the-thankless-lady)

The nightingale is asked to sing but remains silent until the event, then bursts into glad song.

### [The Early Bird](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters/the-early-bird)

The mother bird and her chick are the central characters, illustrating themes of parental anxiety and youthful initiative.

### [No End of No-Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters/no-end-of-no-story)

The swallows are central characters, depicted as merriest fellows building nests from clay and wind.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_8_se/characters/birds
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_8_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_8_se/characters