--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My lady's sparrow is dead, the sparrow…" description: "\"My lady's sparrow is dead, the sparrow which was my lady's delight\" — Catullus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/catullus-11720_delight_my-lady-s-sparrow-is-dead-the-sparrow-wh_1750579.jpg" --- # My lady's sparrow is dead, the sparrow which was my lady's… ![“My lady's sparrow is dead, the sparrow which was my lady's delight” quote by Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/catullus-11720_delight_my-lady-s-sparrow-is-dead-the-sparrow-wh_1750579.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/catullus-11720_delight_my-lady-s-sparrow-is-dead-the-sparrow-wh_1750579.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/catullus-11720_delight_my-lady-s-sparrow-is-dead-the-sparrow-wh_1750579.jpg) > “My lady's sparrow is dead, the sparrow which was my lady's delight” [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The beloved's sparrow has died, a source of her delight. **In simple terms:** The lady's cherished bird is dead. Key Takeaway Cherish fleeting joys. Themes loss affection mortality Mood somber nostalgic Type poetic emotional When to use this quote - pet ownership - memorials - personal loss Key Concepts symbolic animal personal grief Questions to Reflect On - How do you cope with loss? - What objects hold special meaning for you? A Different Perspective Grief may be amplified by symbolic meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Sparrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sparrows/) ## Related quotes > [“We loved - and it has all gone, somewhere... We loved - and now our love is frozen, and now it lies, one wing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/we-loved-and-it-has-all-gone-somewhere-we-loved-and-now-our-love-is/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“Her soul made her honest. Her soul made her kind. It made her swerve for pedestrian ants when she rode her bicycle through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-elaine-hanson/her-soul-made-her-honest-her-soul-made-her-kind-it-made-her-swerve/) Sophia Elaine Hanson > [“Like their mother, Honor Sparrow, dead now for twenty-some years- gone on the very day her youngest daughter, Impatiens, arrived- the sisters had all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-herrick/like-their-mother-honor-sparrow-dead-now-for-twenty-some-years-gone/) [Ellen Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-herrick/) > [Better a sparrow, living or dead, than no birdsong at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/better-a-sparrow-living-or-dead-than-no-birdsong-at-all/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [One sparrow is worth a thousand gulls, When it sings. The gull sits on chimney-tops. He mocks the guinea, challenges The crow, inciting various…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/one-sparrow-is-worth-a-thousand-gulls-when-it-sings-the-gull-sits-on/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [Please, God,' Ruth would pray, 'don't let me be competitive. Let me realize what a privilege it is to study. Let me remember that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/please-god-ruth-would-pray-don-t-let-me-be-competitive-let-me-realize/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-once-had-a-sparrow-alight-upon-my-shoulder-for-a-moment-while-i-was/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [There is special providence in the fall of a sparrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/there-is-special-providence-in-the-fall-of-a-sparrow/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Pastor Veronica told the story of a sparrow lying in the street with its legs straight up in the air, straining. a warhorse walks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/pastor-veronica-told-the-story-of-a-sparrow-lying-in-the-street-with/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I am only a sparrow amongst a great flock of sparrows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evita-peron/i-am-only-a-sparrow-amongst-a-great-flock-of-sparrows/) [Evita Peron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evita-peron/) > [Mr. David Stockman has said that supply-side economics was merely a cover for the trickle-down approach to economic policy—what an older and less elegant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/mr-david-stockman-has-said-that-supply-side-economics-was-merely-a/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Blow kisses to the oak trees and sparrows and elephants and weeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/blow-kisses-to-the-oak-trees-and-sparrows-and-elephants-and-weeds/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [My sparrow, she flickers and wakes and sings and sings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-ann-sandell/my-sparrow-she-flickers-and-wakes-and-sings-and-sings/) [Lisa Ann Sandell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-ann-sandell/) > [I can't keep the sparrows from flying around my head, but I can keep them from making a nest in my hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/i-can-t-keep-the-sparrows-from-flying-around-my-head-but-i-can-keep/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Those who grieve frequently find themselves alone. Missed is the laughter of children, the commotion of teenagers, and the tender, loving concern of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/those-who-grieve-frequently-find-themselves-alone-missed-is-the/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) ## More by Catullus > [Away with you, water, destruction of wine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/away-with-you-water-destruction-of-wine/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [I hate and I love, and who can tell me why?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/i-hate-and-i-love-and-who-can-tell-me-why/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [The confounding of all right and wrong, in wild fury, has averted from us the gracious favor of the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/the-confounding-of-all-right-and-wrong-in-wild-fury-has-averted-from/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [Ah, what is more blessed than to put cares away, when the mind lays by its burden, and tired with labor of far travel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/ah-what-is-more-blessed-than-to-put-cares-away-when-the-mind-lays-by/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [I hate and love. And why, perhaps you’ll ask. I don’t know: but I feel, and I’m tormented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/i-hate-and-love-and-why-perhaps-you-ll-ask-i-don-t-know-but-i-feel/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [“O furum optime balneariorum Vibenni pater et cineadi fili (nam dextra pater inquinatiore, culo filius est voraciore), cur non exilium malasque in oras itis?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/o-furum-optime-balneariorum-vibenni-pater-et-cineadi-fili-nam-dextra/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [Stop wishing to merit anyone's gratitude or thinking that anyone can become grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/stop-wishing-to-merit-anyone-s-gratitude-or-thinking-that-anyone-can/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [It is difficult to suddenly give up a long love. Difficile est longum subito deponere amorem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/it-is-difficult-to-suddenly-give-up-a-long-love-difficile-est-longum/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [“I hate and I love. Why do I do this, you may ask? I do not know, but I feel it, and I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/i-hate-and-i-love-why-do-i-do-this-you-may-ask-i-do-not-know-but-i/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [“I hate & love. And if you should ask how I can do both, I couldn't say; but I feel it, and it shivers me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/i-hate-love-and-if-you-should-ask-how-i-can-do-both-i-couldn-t-say/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [Oh, this age! How tasteless and ill bred it is!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/oh-this-age-how-tasteless-and-ill-bred-it-is/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love. Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/let-us-live-my-lesbia-and-let-us-love-vivamus-mea-lesbia-atque-amemus/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [To whom do I give my new elegant little book? Cui dono lepidum novum libellum?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/to-whom-do-i-give-my-new-elegant-little-book-cui-dono-lepidum-novum/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [I hate and I love. Perchance you ask why I do that. I know not, but I feel that I do and I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/i-hate-and-i-love-perchance-you-ask-why-i-do-that-i-know-not-but-i/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [What woman says to fond lover should be written on air or the swift water. \[Lat., Mulier cupido quod dicit amanti, In vento et…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/what-woman-says-to-fond-lover-should-be-written-on-air-or-the-swift/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) [Explore all 55 Catullus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) ## More Bird quotes > [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. But if I had to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/and-i-have-been-very-blessed-having-coached-some-of-the-greatest-that/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [Some minds corrode and grow inactive under the loss of personal liberty; others grow morbid and irritable; but it is the nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/some-minds-corrode-and-grow-inactive-under-the-loss-of-personal/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Set the bird's wings with gold and it will never again soar in thesky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/set-the-bird-s-wings-with-gold-and-it-will-never-again-soar-in-thesky/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“He unfixes the metal notch and slips his hand around the body of the bird. Feels its heat, its small heart beating. He stares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-schuyler/he-unfixes-the-metal-notch-and-slips-his-hand-around-the-body-of-the/) Nina Schuyler > [I would rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach 10,000 stars how not to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/i-would-rather-learn-from-one-bird-how-to-sing-than-to-teach-10-000/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [Surely, God could have caused birds to fly with their bones made of solid gold, with their veins full of quicksilver, with their flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/surely-god-could-have-caused-birds-to-fly-with-their-bones-made-of/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [And wheresoever, in his rich creation, Sweet music breathes--in wave, or bird, or soul-- 'Tis but the faint and far reverberation Of that great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-sargent-osgood/and-wheresoever-in-his-rich-creation-sweet-music-breathes-in-wave-or/) [Frances Sargent Osgood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-sargent-osgood/) > [A clock struck out the hour of twelve, and the bird in the hedgerow was still singing as we marched out to the roadway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macgill/a-clock-struck-out-the-hour-of-twelve-and-the-bird-in-the-hedgerow/) [Patrick MacGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macgill/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [When they started to drain a swamp where birds and fish had lived, for a new housing development down the road from his apartment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maile-meloy/when-they-started-to-drain-a-swamp-where-birds-and-fish-had-lived-for/) [Maile Meloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maile-meloy/) > [The bird with the thorn in its breast, it follows an immutable law; it is driven by it knows not what to impale itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/the-bird-with-the-thorn-in-its-breast-it-follows-an-immutable-law-it/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [Real like sucks the life out of losers. if you want to fuck with the eagles, you must learn how to fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/real-like-sucks-the-life-out-of-losers-if-you-want-to-fuck-with-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If we studied birds ,maybe we could learn to be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-alire-s-enz/if-we-studied-birds-maybe-we-could-learn-to-be-free/) [Benjamin Alire Sáenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-alire-s-enz/) [Browse all 4,802 Bird quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My lady's sparrow is dead, the sparrow which was my lady's delight", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Catullus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/my-lady-s-sparrow-is-dead-the-sparrow-which-was-my-lady-s-delight/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bird" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/my-lady-s-sparrow-is-dead-the-sparrow-which-was-my-lady-s-delight/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/catullus-11720_delight_my-lady-s-sparrow-is-dead-the-sparrow-wh_1750579.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/catullus-11720_delight_my-lady-s-sparrow-is-dead-the-sparrow-wh_1750579.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/catullus-11720_delight_my-lady-s-sparrow-is-dead-the-sparrow-wh_1750579.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My lady's sparrow is dead, the sparrow which was my lady's delight” — Catullus", "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": "Catullus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My lady's sparrow is dead, the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/my-lady-s-sparrow-is-dead-the-sparrow-which-was-my-lady-s-delight/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/my-lady-s-sparrow-is-dead-the-sparrow-which-was-my-lady-s-delight/#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 } } ] } ```