Symbol Analysis
That solitary gull standing on the shoreline beside the people kind of stands out in the poem. We know it's got to be important since the speaker includes the idea of its reflection (a dead giveaway when it comes to symbols). In a lot of ways then, the gull appears to symbolize our own tendency to isolate ourselves while thinking about all the things we'll never see or understand.
- Lines 7-8: The "wetter ground" reflects a single "standing gull." There's something odd about that image since gulls are so rarely seen alone. This gull is isolated, unlike the people who are in a big group.