Gypsies Travelling

By Charles Baudelaire

Ballad
    That tribe of prophets with the burning eyes     Is on the road, their babies on their backs,     Who satisfy their appetite attacks     With treasured breasts that always hang nearby.     On foot, with weapons shining, go the men     Beside the carts in which their people lie,     With sorrow-laden eyes searching the sky,     Yearning for vanished chimeras again.     The cricket, as he sees them pass along,     Deep in his lair redoubles his shrill song;     Cybele, their friend, augments her greenery,     Turns rocks to springs, brings flowers from the sand     Before these sojourners, empowered to see     Their future darkness, that familiar land.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem skillfully intertwines themes of journey, prophecy, and the cyclical nature of life. The 'tribe of prophets with the burning eyes' suggests a group of individuals with foresight or wisdom. They are depicted as moving, on a journey, carrying not only their young but also their past. The poignant image of the men carrying weapons and their sorrow-filled eyes looking towards the sky symbolizes a struggle against their fate and a longing for lost illusions.

The tone of the poem fluctuates between melancholy and hope. The sorrow-laden eyes of the men, the yearning for vanished chimeras, and the future darkness imply a sense of loss and dread. However, this is counterbalanced by elements that symbolize resilience, renewal, and continuity. The cricket’s song, the greenery of Cybele, and the transformation of the barren landscape into a blooming one, all suggest the persistence of life and hope amidst adversity.

The structure of the poem, with its regular rhythm and rhyme scheme, underscores the cyclical nature of life, reflecting the continuity of the journey. The literary device of personification is used effectively, where Cybele (a deity symbolizing Mother Earth) actively participates in the journey, nurturing the travelers.

In essence, this poem beautifully captures the human condition - the relentless quest for meaning, the struggle against fate, the longing for lost dreams, and the enduring hope for renewal and continuity.

Understanding Ballads

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music, that has been a cornerstone of storytelling across various cultures. Traditionally passed down orally, ballads are known for their rhythmic structure and often tell tales of love, adventure, and heroism.

Ballads are characterized by their strong rhythm and repetition, making them both memorable and engaging. Here are some defining features:

  • Narrative Structure: Ballads typically tell a story, often a dramatic or emotional tale that unfolds in a straightforward, chronological order.
  • Quatrain Stanzas: Most ballads are composed of quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a rhyme scheme of ABAB or ABCB, which adds to the musicality of the verse.
  • Repetition: Refrains or repeated lines are common in ballads, helping to emphasize key themes or emotions and making the ballad easier to remember.
  • Oral Tradition: Many ballads originated from oral traditions, which means they were passed down through generations by word of mouth before being written down.

From medieval minstrels to contemporary songwriters, ballads have continued to evolve, remaining a beloved form of expression that captures the human experience in a way that is both poetic and accessible.