Hope
Hope is the main theme of the poem and is the subject of its central metaphor. Hope is depicted as a little bird that continues to sing even in face of trouble and pain. Dickinson uses the features and characteristics of a bird to illustrate her opinions about human hope in times of hardship. The poem concludes on a softly optimistic note, maintaining that hope is a force to be reckoned with, still singing in the face of adversity.
Endurance
Human endurance is a significant aspect of the poem and is symbolized by the strong little bird, who sings and endures extreme weather conditions. The speaker appears optimistic about the human ability to hope and survive through suffering. This optimism is subtly implied by the bird's song being described as "sweetest" in a dramatic "gale."
Human suffering
Dickinson refers repeatedly to the inhospitable nature of the dark and stormy weather in the poem's setting. This weather represents the hardships humans face, such as loss and grief. The use of seafaring imagery is also significant in Dickinson's depiction of human suffering. Seafaring is often used culturally as a symbol for hardship and endurance, which is noted in the poem's descriptions of storms and gales.
