39

By Henry Lawson

Ballad
    I only woke this morning     To find the world is fair,     Im going on for forty,     With scarcely one grey hair;     Im going on for forty,     Where mans strong life begins,     With scarce a sign of crows feet,     In spite of all my sins.     Then heres the living Forties!     The Forties! The Forties!     Then heres the living Forties!     Were good for ten years more.     The teens were black and bitter,     A smothered boyhoods grave,     A farm-drudge in the drought-time,     A weary workshop slave.     But twenty years have laid them,     And all the world is fair,     Well find time in the Forties,     To have some boyhood there.     Then heres the wide, free Forties,     The Forties! The Forties!     Then heres the wide, free Forties!     Were good for ten years more!     The twenties they were noble,     The bravest years, I think;     Twas man to man in trouble,     In working and in drink;     Twas man to man in fighting,     For money or for praise.     And well find in the Forties     Some more Bohemian days.     Then heres the wiser Forties!     The Forties! The Forties!     Then heres the wiser Forties!     Were good for ten years more.     The thirties were the fate years;     I fought behind the scenes.     The thirties were more cruel     And blacker than the teens;     I held them not but bore them,     They were no years of mine;     But they are going from me,     For I am thirty-nine.     So heres the stronger Forties!     The Forties! The Forties!     And heres the good old Forties!     Were good for ten years more.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem presents a life's journey in decades, each era carrying its own character and trials. It's an exploration of aging, personal growth, and the inherent optimism and resilience of the human spirit. The consistent, repetitive structure mirrors the cyclical nature of time, and the recurring refrain "The Forties! The Forties!" serves both to celebrate the coming decade and to reinforce this cyclical motif. It's a chant, a toast, a rallying cry for embracing the years ahead.

The poet uses vivid imagery and contrast to depict each decade. The "teens" are described as "black and bitter," a time of hardship and lost innocence, while the "twenties" are painted as years of bravery and camaraderie. The "thirties" are characterized as "cruel" and "blacker than the teens," implying a period of struggle and hardship. The impending "forties," however, are heralded with hope and anticipation. They are painted as a time of freedom, wisdom, strength, and renewed vitality, a period to reclaim lost youth and embrace the wisdom of age. The tone is optimistic and defiant, challenging the societal narrative that growing older is a decline. Instead, the poet asserts, it is an ascent to a peak, a triumph over past trials, a time of strength and vitality. The poem is a celebration of life's journey, a testament to the resilience and spirit of an individual facing the future with hope and determination.

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.