The speaker opens the poem by directly addressing the skylark of the poem’s title, hailing it as an “Ethereal minstrel” and “pilgrim of the sky!” (Line 1). In calling the skylark both a minstrel and a pilgrim, the speaker introduces two traits they will associate with the bird throughout the poem: the bird as a beautiful singer (minstrel) and as a creature that can travel about with ease (pilgrim).

The speaker juxtaposes the freedom of flying in the sky with the security and comforts of the nest. They wonder if the bird prefers the freedom of flying through the skies to being upon the earth, especially since the earth is the site of so many “cares” (Line 2), or problems and duties. They ask if the bird’s “heart and eye” (Line 3) are actually “Both with thy nest upon the dewy ground” (Line 4) while it is in flight—that it is to say, if the bird prefers the comforts of its dwelling (the nest) and close proximity to its chicks instead of the freedom of flying alone. The speaker mentions how the skylark can drop into its nest “at will” (Line 5), and find peace and rest there.