So summer’s sentinel, the cuckoo, sings / In his murmuring voice, and our hearts mourn / As he
urges. (“The Seafarer")
sentinel meaning
1 answer
In this context, "sentinel" refers to the cuckoo bird, which is sometimes called the "summer's sentinel." A sentinel is a guard or watcher who is responsible for protecting or monitoring something. By referring to the cuckoo as a sentinel, the poet is emphasizing its role as a herald of summer, announcing its arrival and watching over the changing season.