This passage was cited in the (anti-Lincoln) Indianapolis Star as a "pretty close hit at the meek and lowly preachers of war and blood." (Feb 13, 1864).

The November 25, 1863 publication of this book of poetry was highly anticipated. Ticknor & Fields expected to sell the first edition of 15,000 during the first week. The Atlantic ran "Birds of Killingworth" in its December 1863 issue.

Taking seriously the idea that this blog is a gloss on the poem, I've annotated elements to make explicit their connections to specific blog posts.

See also Angela Sorby's interpretation of the poem. “The Poetics of Bird-Defense, 1860-1918” in Mike Chasar and Heidi Bean, eds., Poetry After Cultural Studies. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2011: 173-198.

Classic example of the cruelty of spring shooting.

See: Ignoble Hunters from the City--American Farmer (1819)

Some versions of the "killing birds causes agricultural havoc" story include this reimportation of birds element. In the "Virginia" version told by William Boardman during the Connecticut small bird debates, this is more of a wish: he states that "the farmers would gladly have paid back their money if they could have established the dynasty of the crows again."

Angela Sorby (2011) notes that many reprints of the poem don't include the happy ending. The apocalyptic ending might be more persuasive.

An impetus for the introduction of house sparrows to the United States.

See: An ominous development (1851-1855)

Judgement from heaven

See:

• A Judgement from Heaven--The religious framing of bird protection (1826)
• The needless destruction of songbirds: Four articles from 1832.

Woman most receptive to bird protection argument.

See

• The Gendering of Bird Protection: Little Goody Two Shoes saves some birds (1765)
• "To the Girls" --The American Agriculturist (1846)

Even in Longfellow, the role of the newspaper is highlighted.

See:

• On Editors and Crows--New England Farmer (1843)
• On editors and robins (1844)

British species but American Robin called "American Fieldfare" by colonists.

Birds as criminals.

See: "Spare the Birds," or Kill Them?--New England Farmer (1842)

Economic rationality vs. "Sentiment"

See:"Ought we to kill the birds that eat our fruit?"--Genesee Farmer (1832)

Anti-cruelty argument.

See:

• William Drummond, Animal Rights, and Bird Protection (1838)
• Bird protection and the moral education of children (1845)

Classic useful bird argument.

See:

• Isaac Hill and Bird Protection Legislation--Farmer's Monthly Visitor (1839)
• Francis Wayland joins his voice to the bird protection cause (1841)

Silent spring already imagined.

See: Silent Spring 1834 style--New England Farmer

A profound poetic insight by Longfellow, which resonates with studies of animal communication and cognition today.

Joseph Addison (1712): "I value my Garden more for being full of Blackbirds than Cherries, and very frankly give them Fruit for their Songs."

See: Joseph Addison's Blackbirds (and Richard Steele's Tom-tits) (1712)

Longfellow famously identified this as Killingworth, CT, on the coast between New London and New Haven. According to Longfellow, the poem was based on a debate on blackbird bounties in the Connecticut Legislature. I am unable to find that debate in the annals of the Connecticut House. It is possible that Longfellow misremembered and really referenced the small bird debate in the early 1850s.

One of the critics of the small bird law in Connecticut was Harris R. Burr of Killingworth (he wanted the brown thrasher removed from the protected list). In defense of the thrasher, William W. Boardman invoked Franklin's blackbird tale, displaced to "Virginia" and involving the "crow." Curiously, late in the debate Burr moved to include crows on the protected list.

Charles Burr Todd (1906) includes a letter from Longfellow's brother, who confirms that a newspaper clipping was found among the poet's papers detailing a debate in Connecticut about bird bounties that included a representative from Killingworth.

See: Connecticut debates the small bird law (1851)

Charles Burr Todd (1906) includes a letter from the town clerk of Killingworth. The official was unable to find any records about a blackbird bounty but remembered, from his youth, the town had a history of "injurious bird" shooting competitions.

"the men of the Northern part did yearly in the Spring choose two leaders, and then the two sides were formed: the side that got beaten should pay the bills. Their special game was the hawk, the owl, the crow, the blackbird, and any other bird supposed to be mischievous to the corn. Some years each would bring them in by the bushel. This was followed up for only a few years, for birds began to grow scarce.."

See:

• Election Day Bird Shoots and Grand Squirrel Hunts

1749 to be precise. This poem seems based on Benjamin Franklin's tale about the town in New England that killed its blackbirds and lost its hay crop.

See: New England Destroys Blackbirds (and pays for it)--Ben Franklin tells a fable (1753)

See: Birds as Poetry--The Country Gentleman (1855)

A crow trial.

See:

• Crows on Trial--New England Farmer (1834)
• Farmers v. Rooks: A miscarriage of justice

Matthew 10:29.

King David. So "lovely lyrics" would be "psalms."

Illiterate cowherd, represents oral tradition of direct inspiration by creator. Parallel to birdsong. Wikipedia on Caedmon.

Literally "blackbird" (merle) and "thrush" (mavis) but used poetically in English poetry to signify birdsong in general. Red-winged blackbird/grackle and brown thrasher might be considered the new world "merle and mavis."

On the British influence on bird protection efforts see:

• The British influence on early American bird protection--New England Farmer (1822)

On examples of British/American species confusion see:

• "Every farmer should be an ornithologist" Country Gentleman (1859-1860)

On birdsong in general see: *Bird Music and Agrarianism

"The time of the singing of birds has come." (Song of Solomon 2:12). Longfellow's first two paragraphs employ the kind of religious frame we saw in the earliest days of bird protection articles. See:

• A Judgement from Heaven (1826)
• Letters to the New England Farmer #2 (1827)
• Letters to the New England Farmer #3 (1828)

Birdsong compared to (foreign) language. Intercultural communication.

Job 38:41.

Poetic: "rivers of song." All nature sings praise to Creator.