The nineteenth-century focus on romantic poetry still left the remnants of its effects in the poetry of the next century as issues on nature were always being treated. All the while, the modernist tendencies of most of the writers led them to contrast nature with the gloomy realities that were direct consequences of industrialization.

Mankind’s reaction to and interaction with birds (bats) is somewhat highlighted by Lawrence, who also registered his true feelings regarding the animal.

Setting – the place and time in which something takes place inclusive of the atmosphere
nocturnal – done, occurring, or active at night

bat – a nocturnal mammal whose forelimbs are adapted as wings. This flying mammal is also known as ‘Pipistrello’ in Italy, which means little piper.

swallow – a small oscine black bird with short bill, long pointed wings and a deeply forked tail

serrated – having or denoting a jagged edge, sawlike

theme – the central message or main idea of a work

The poet, D.H. Lawrence wrote the poem ‘Bat’, in which he expressed his feelings about the nocturnal mammal. He contrasts bats and swallows, where one fade away to give way to the other at evening time. Bats being nocturnal can only see at night but are blind during the daylight hours.

His appreciation of Nature comes out through personification, alliteration, assonance, and imagery.