--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: First don: O cuckoo, shall I call thee…" description: "\"“First don: O cuckoo, shall I call thee bird, Or but a wandering voice? Second don: State the alternative preferred, With reasons for your choice.”\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baf/a-e-housman-2-12514_quote_first-don-o-cuckoo-shall-i-call-thee-bir_1184495.jpg" --- # First don: O cuckoo, shall I call thee bird, Or but a… ![“First don: O cuckoo, shall I call thee bird, Or but a wandering voice? Second don: State the alternative preferred, With reasons for your choice.” quote by A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baf/a-e-housman-2-12514_quote_first-don-o-cuckoo-shall-i-call-thee-bir_1184495.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baf/a-e-housman-2-12514_quote_first-don-o-cuckoo-shall-i-call-thee-bir_1184495.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baf/a-e-housman-2-12514_quote_first-don-o-cuckoo-shall-i-call-thee-bir_1184495.jpg) > ““First don: O cuckoo, shall I call thee bird, Or but a wandering voice? Second don: State the alternative preferred, With reasons for your choice.”” [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker questions whether a sound is a bird or just a wandering voice, then asks for a preferred alternative and justification. **In simple terms:** Questioning identity and seeking reasoned choices. Key Takeaway Clarify what you truly mean before deciding. Themes identity reasoning choice Mood contemplative inquisitive Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - creative writing - literary analysis - personal decision making Key Concepts philosophical inquiry self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - What does the “cuckoo” symbolize for you? - How do you choose between competing interpretations? A Different Perspective The metaphor may obscure practical clarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Cuckoo Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cuckoo-shall-1301224/) [Reasons Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasons-choice-3488077/) [Second Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-don-3443107/) [Voice Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice-second-3488076/) ## Related quotes > [There's not one second that I don't think about my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-burke/there-s-not-one-second-that-i-don-t-think-about-my-dad/) [Cheryl Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-burke/) > [O Cuckoo! shall I call thee bird, Or but a wandering voice?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/o-cuckoo-shall-i-call-thee-bird-or-but-a-wandering-voice/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [The voice is a second face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gerard-bauer/the-voice-is-a-second-face/) [Michael Gerard Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gerard-bauer/) > [No it was not the novelty, and it was not the danger and the adventure (although these had their charm). It was certainly not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-gower/no-it-was-not-the-novelty-and-it-was-not-the-danger-and-the-adventure/) [Pauline Gower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-gower/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) [Randy C. Dockens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-c-dockens/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) ## More by A.E. Housman > [“I to my perils Of cheat and charmer Came clad in armour By stars benign. Hope lies to mortals And most believe her, But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/i-to-my-perils-of-cheat-and-charmer-came-clad-in-armour-by-stars/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“There pass the careless people That call their souls their own: Here by the road I loiter, How idle and alone. Ah, past the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/there-pass-the-careless-people-that-call-their-souls-their-own-here/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“Smart lad, to slip betimes away From fields where glory does not stay And early though the laurel grows It withers quicker than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/smart-lad-to-slip-betimes-away-from-fields-where-glory-does-not-stay/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“Oh on my breast in days hereafter Light the earth should lie, Such weight to bear is now the air, So heavy hangs the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/oh-on-my-breast-in-days-hereafter-light-the-earth-should-lie-such/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“Oh many a peer of England brews Livelier liquor than the Muse, And malt does more than Milton can To justify God’s ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/oh-many-a-peer-of-england-brews-livelier-liquor-than-the-muse-and/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“In my own shire, if I was sad Homely comforters I had: The earth, because my heart was sore, Sorrowed for the son she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/in-my-own-shire-if-i-was-sad-homely-comforters-i-had-the-earth/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“If it chance your eye offends you, Pluck it out lad, and be sound: 'Twill hurt, but here are salves to friend you, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/if-it-chance-your-eye-offends-you-pluck-it-out-lad-and-be-sound-twill/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“They say my verse is sad: no wonder. Its narrow measure spans Rue for eternity, and sorrow Not mine, but man's This is for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/they-say-my-verse-is-sad-no-wonder-its-narrow-measure-spans-rue-for/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“Diffugere Nives Horace, Odes, iv, 7 The snows are fled away, leaves on the shaws And grasses in the mead renew their birth, The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/diffugere-nives-horace-odes-iv-7-the-snows-are-fled-away-leaves-on/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“The time you won your town the race We chaired you through the market-place; Man and boy stood cheering by, And home we brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/the-time-you-won-your-town-the-race-we-chaired-you-through-the-market/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“Along the field as we came by A year ago, my love and I, The aspen over stile and stone Was talking to itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/along-the-field-as-we-came-by-a-year-ago-my-love-and-i-the-aspen-over/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“Knowledge is good, method is good, but one thing beyond all others is necessary; and that is to have a head, not a pumpkin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/knowledge-is-good-method-is-good-but-one-thing-beyond-all-others-is/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“It nods and curtseys and recovers When the wind blows above, The nettle on the graves of lovers That hanged themselves for love. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/it-nods-and-curtseys-and-recovers-when-the-wind-blows-above-the/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“Oh fair enough are sky and plain, But I know fairer far: Those are as beautiful again That in the water are; The pools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/oh-fair-enough-are-sky-and-plain-but-i-know-fairer-far-those-are-as/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) > [“Iniquity it is; but pass the can. My lad, no pair of kings our mothers bore; Our only portion is the estate of man:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/iniquity-it-is-but-pass-the-can-my-lad-no-pair-of-kings-our-mothers/) [A.E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) [Explore all 54 A.E. Housman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) [Randy C. Dockens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-c-dockens/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“First don: O cuckoo, shall I call thee bird, Or but a wandering voice? Second don: State the alternative preferred, With reasons for your choice.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "A.E. Housman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/first-don-o-cuckoo-shall-i-call-thee-bird-or-but-a-wandering-voice/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/first-don-o-cuckoo-shall-i-call-thee-bird-or-but-a-wandering-voice/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baf/a-e-housman-2-12514_quote_first-don-o-cuckoo-shall-i-call-thee-bir_1184495.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baf/a-e-housman-2-12514_quote_first-don-o-cuckoo-shall-i-call-thee-bir_1184495.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/baf/a-e-housman-2-12514_quote_first-don-o-cuckoo-shall-i-call-thee-bir_1184495.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“First don: O cuckoo, shall I call thee bird, Or but a wandering voice? Second don: State the alternative…” — A.E. Housman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "A.E. Housman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman-2/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“First don: O cuckoo, shall I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/first-don-o-cuckoo-shall-i-call-thee-bird-or-but-a-wandering-voice/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman-2/first-don-o-cuckoo-shall-i-call-thee-bird-or-but-a-wandering-voice/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```