The speaker begins by greeting life itself and everything glad and beautiful. Though his pockets are empty, he feels rich because the sun is his great friend whose spending never ends. The poem then pours out a series of hails to the morning sky, bright clouds, singing birds, shady bowers, green fields full of flowers, and women in white clothes, whether calico or silk. There is no envy or complaint in his poverty. Instead, he presents the world as full of free, shared pleasures that anyone can enjoy. The short lines and repeated exclamations give the poem a light, song-like, almost prayerful mood. By ending with the same greeting that opened it, Davies creates a sense of completeness and quiet joy, as if the speaker is simply happy to be alive and looking around.
A Greeting — Summary
Good morning, Life--and all Things glad and beautiful. My pockets nothing hold, But he that owns the gold, The Sun, is my great friend-- His spending has no end. Hail to the morning sky, Which bright clouds measure high; Hail to you birds whose throats Would number leaves by notes; Hail to you shady bowers, And you green fields of flowers. Hail to you women fair, That make a show so rare In cloth as white as milk-- Be't calico or silk: Good morning, Life--and all Things glad and beautiful.