A Canary At the Farm

By James Whitcomb Riley

Narrative Poem
    Folks has be'n to town, and Sahry     Fetched 'er home a pet canary,     And of all the blame', contrary,     Aggervatin' things alive!     I love music - that I love it     When it's free - and plenty of it;     But I kindo' git above it,     At a dollar-eighty-five!     Reason's plain as I'm a-sayin',     Jes' the idy, now, o' layin'     Out yer money, and a-payin'     Fer a willer-cage and bird,     When the medder-larks is wingin'     Round you, and the woods is ringin'     With the beautifullest singin'     That a mortal ever heard!     Sahry's sot, tho'. So I tell her     He's a purty little feller,     With his wings o' creamy-yeller,     And his eyes keen as a cat;     And the twitter o' the critter     'Pears to absolutely glitter!     Guess I'll haf to go and git her     A high-priceter cage 'n that!

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a satirical commentary on the excesses of commercialism and the commodification of nature, presented in a conversational tone that belies its sharp social critique. The use of a first-person narrative voice and informal language serves to undermine the poem's message, while the structured stanzas and consistent rhyme scheme, although not overly complex, contribute to a sense of order and predictability that is later subverted. The meter is primarily iambic tetrameter, with a consistent pattern of eight syllables per line, which adds to the poem's sense of familiarity and accessibility. The poem's tone shifts from one of enthusiasm and appreciation for the natural world to one of disillusionment and frustration, as the speaker becomes increasingly disenchanted with the commercialization of nature. The structural shift from the second stanza to the third, where the speaker's voice becomes more sarcastic and dismissive, is marked by a change in language and imagery, with the use of words like purty and glitter to describe the canary, and the introduction of the phrase Guess I'll haf to go and git her / A high-priceter cage 'n that!, which is a pointed commentary on the excesses of consumer culture.

Exploring Narrative Poetry

Narrative poetry is a form of poetry that tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator and characters as well. Unlike lyric poetry, which focuses on emotions and thoughts, narrative poetry is dedicated to storytelling, weaving tales that captivate readers through plot and character development.

Narrative poems are unique in their ability to combine the depth of storytelling with the expressive qualities of poetry. Here are some defining characteristics:

  • Structured Plot: Narrative poems typically have a clear beginning, middle, and end, following a plot that might involve conflict, climax, and resolution, much like a short story or novel.
  • Character Development: Characters in narrative poems are often well-developed, with distinct voices and personalities that drive the story forward.
  • Descriptive Language: The language used in narrative poetry is vivid and descriptive, painting a clear picture of the scenes and events, while also conveying the emotions and atmosphere of the story.

From ancient epics like "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" to more modern narrative poems, this form continues to engage readers by blending the art of storytelling with the beauty and rhythm of poetry.