"Pied Beauty" is a hymn to the beauty and variety of the natural world. The poem is written in terza rima, a form of poetry consisting of three-line stanzas with a rhyme scheme of ABA BCB CDC DED EFE.
The poem's first line, "Glory be to God for dappled things—", introduces the theme of the poem: that the world is full of beauty and variety, and that this beauty is a reflection of God's glory. The speaker of the poem goes on to list some of the many beautiful things in the world, including "skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow," "brinded" or spotted cows, and "rose-moles all in stipple upon trout."
The speaker also notes the beauty of "fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings;/ Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough," comparing the red chestnut leaves falling from trees to "fresh-firecoal," and describing the patchwork of fields in a rural landscape.
The speaker concludes the poem by reaffirming the glory of God, and by asking God to help us to see the beauty in all of creation.
The poem's language is rich and evocative, and the speaker's use of imagery and metaphor creates a vivid picture of the natural world. The poem's form is also carefully structured, and the terza rima rhyme scheme helps to create a sense of unity and coherence.
Overall, "Pied Beauty" is a powerful and moving hymn to the beauty and variety of the natural world. The poem's message is that we should take the time to appreciate the beauty around us, and that this beauty is a reflection of God's glory.