Beauty And Song

By Thomas Moore

Lyric Poem
    Down in yon summer vale,         Where the rill flows.     Thus said a Nightingale         To his loved Rose:--     "Tho' rich the pleasures     "Of song's sweet measures,     "Vain were its melody,     "Rose, without thee."     Then from the green recess         Of her night-bower,     Beaming with bashfulness,         Spoke the bright flower:--     "Tho' morn should lend her     "Its sunniest splendor,     "What would the Rose be,     "Unsung by thee?"     Thus still let Song attend         Woman's bright way;     Thus still let woman lend         Light to the lay.     Like stars thro' heaven's sea     Floating in harmony     Beauty should glide along     Circled by Song.

Share & Analyze This Poem

Spread the beauty of poetry or dive deeper into analysis

Analyze This Poem

Discover the literary devices, structure, and deeper meaning

Create Image

Transform this poem into a beautiful shareable image

Copy to Clipboard

Save this poem for personal use or sharing offline

Share the Love of Poetry
More Poems
More Lyric Poems
Daily Poem

Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This is a beautiful piece that employs romantic and naturalistic imagery to portray a symbiotic relationship, likely a metaphor for the interconnectedness of beauty and art. The poem is driven by a conversation between a nightingale and a rose, drawing upon traditional associations of the nightingale with song and the rose with beauty. The nightingale finds its singing meaningless without the rose, while the rose considers its beauty diminished without the nightingale's song. This mutual dependence serves as an allegory for the relationship between beauty and art, suggesting that one cannot exist without the other.

The poem utilizes a consistent structure, with each stanza containing four couplets and an ABAB rhyme scheme. This structure underscores the harmonious relationship depicted in the poem. The tone is gentle and romantic, imbuing the piece with a sense of tranquility and mutual admiration. Key literary devices include personification, as seen in the dialogue between the nightingale and the rose, and metaphor, as the poem extends this dialogue to represent the interplay between art and beauty. The poem culminates in a broader call for women (symbolized by the rose) to be ever accompanied by song, reflecting the societal expectation of the time for women to be paragons of grace and beauty. The imagery of stars floating in harmony furthers this theme of unity and balance, reinforcing the poem's message about the symbiotic relationship of beauty and art.

Exploring Lyric Poetry

Lyric poetry is a powerful and intimate form of expression, characterized by its focus on the personal emotions and thoughts of the poet. Often musical in nature, lyric poems resonate with readers through their vivid language and rhythmic flow, capturing moments of intense feeling.

Here are some key characteristics that define lyric poetry:

  • Expressive Language: Lyric poems use rich and evocative language to convey deep emotions, often painting a vivid picture of the poet's inner world.
  • Personal Perspective: Typically written in the first person, these poems offer a window into the poet's personal experiences, thoughts, and reflections.
  • Musicality: Lyric poems often feature a rhythmic structure, with meter and rhyme that give them a song-like quality, enhancing the emotional impact.

From ancient odes to contemporary free verse, lyric poetry remains a beloved and enduring form, celebrated for its ability to articulate the nuances of human emotion in a way that resonates deeply with readers.