Traveller's Return
Sweet to the morning traveller
The song amid the sky,
Where, twinkling in the dewy light,
The skylark soars on high.
And cheering to the traveller
The gales that round him play,
When faint and heavily he drags
Along his noontide way.
And when beneath the unclouded sun
Full wearily toils he,
The flowing water makes to him
A soothing melody.
And when the evening light decays.
And all is calm around,
There is sweet music to the ear
In the distant sheep-bell's sound.
But, oh! of all delightful sounds
Of evening or of morn,
The sweetest is the voice of Love
That welcomes his return.
Introduction
"The Traveller's Return" by Robert Southey is a poem that celebrates the joy and comfort of coming back home after a long journey.
In the poem, the traveler experiences various delightful and soothing sounds of nature—like the singing of a skylark, the cool breeze, and the sound of flowing water—that help ease his journey.
The poem shows that the sweetest comfort is not found on the road, but in the loving voice that welcomes the traveller home.
Summary
In this poem, the poet describes the joy and comfort a traveler feels as he returns home after a long journey. Throughout his travels, he finds different sources of relief and beauty: the singing of a skylark in the morning, the refreshing breeze at noon, the soothing sound of flowing water, and the gentle ringing of sheep bells in the evening.
Despite these pleasant experiences, the greatest joy for the traveler is the warm, loving welcome he receives when he finally arrives back home. The poem highlights how the love and comfort of home are the most cherished rewards after a long and tiring journey.
Explanation
Stanza 1
Sweet to the morning traveller
The song amid the sky,
Where, twinkling in the dewy light,
The skylark soars on high.
twinkling - shining brightly
dewy - wet with dew
skylark - a bird that flies high up in the sky and sings beautifully
The poem begins by describing the joy of a traveler in the morning. The skylark's song in the morning sky is described as "sweet" to the traveler. Skylarks are birds known for their high, melodious songs, and their sound is associated with freedom, beauty, and the freshness of a new day.
The skylark is also "twinkling in the dewy light," referring to the early morning atmosphere, when everything is fresh and sparkling with dew. The "twinkling" here suggests the lively and uplifting presence of the bird, adding a sense of hope and energy to the traveler’s morning.
Stanza 2
And cheering to the traveller
The gales that round him play,
When faint and heavily he drags
Along his noontide way.
cheering - giving joy and happiness
gales - strong winds / refreshing breezes
faint - feeling weak and exhausted
drag - to move along slowly and heavily
noontide - mid-day / noon
As the day progresses, the traveler finds the gales that blow around him "cheering" and refreshing. These winds offer a bit of relief as he "drags" himself along his journey during the heat of noon. The middle of the day is often the hardest part of a journey because of the heat and exhaustion, but the cool breezes offer some comfort.
The word "faint" implies that the traveler is growing tired, but the natural elements, such as the refreshing wind, help to encourage him to keep going forward.
Stanza 3
And when beneath the unclouded sun
Full wearily toils he,
The flowing water makes to him
A soothing melody.
beneath - below
unclouded - not covered by clouds; completely clear
wearily - exhausted / tiredly
toils - struggles with heavy physical effort
soothing - comforting / calming
In the third stanza, the traveller is tired under the clear, hot sun. The sound of flowing water gives him comfort, like a soft song during a difficult part of the day.
Stanza 4
And when the evening light decays.
And all is calm around,
There is sweet music to the ear
In the distant sheep-bell's sound.
decays - becomes weaker / fades away
sheep-bell - a bell tied around the neck of a sheep
In the evening, the light fades and everything becomes calm. The distant sound of sheep bells feels gentle and peaceful to the traveller after a long day.
Stanza 5
But, oh! of all delightful sounds
Of evening or of morn,
The sweetest is the voice of Love
That welcomes his return.
delightful - very pleasant / beautiful
morn - morning
In the final stanza, the speaker emphasizes that, despite all the delightful sounds the traveler has experienced during his journey—the skylark in the morning, the refreshing wind at noon, the flowing water, and the evening sheep bells—none of these sounds compare to the "sweetest" sound of all: the "voice of love" that welcomes the traveler home.
This "voice of love" could be that of a loved one—a partner, family member, or friend—who greets the traveler upon his return. This welcoming voice is the most cherished and meaningful sound to the traveler, symbolizing the emotional warmth and comfort that comes from being reunited with loved ones after a long journey.
Questions & Answers
What is the short summary of the poem?
'The Traveller's Return' by Robert Southey is about a traveler who finds joy and comfort in various natural sounds during his journey, such as the skylark's song and the sound of flowing water. However, the greatest happiness comes from being warmly welcomed home by a loved one.
What does the traveller enjoy when he travels in the morning?
When the traveller travels in the morning, he enjoys the sweet melody of the skylark soaring up high in the sky.
What cheers the traveller up during midday?
The cool breeze that blows around the traveller cheers him up during the exhausting heat of midday.
Under the fierce sun, what gives him pleasure?
The soothing melody of the flowing river or stream gives him pleasure and relief under the fierce, unclouded sun.
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