The Song Of The Bow

By Arthur Conan Doyle

Ballad
    What of the bow?     The bow was made in England:     Of true wood, of yew-wood,     The wood of English bows;     So men who are free     Love the old yew-tree     And the land where the yew-tree grows.     What of the cord?     The cord was made in England:     A rough cord, a tough cord,     A cord that bowmen love;     And so we will sing     Of the hempen string     And the land where the cord was wove.     What of the shaft?     The shaft was cut in England:     A long shaft, a strong shaft,     Barbed and trim and true;     So we'll drink all together     To the grey goose-feather     And the land where the grey goose flew.     What of the mark?     Ah, seek it not in England,     A bold mark, our old mark     Is waiting over-sea.     When the strings harp in chorus,     And the lion flag is o'er us,     It is there that our mark will be.     What of the men?     The men were bred in England:     The bowmen--the yeomen,     The lads of dale and fell.     Here's to you--and to you!     To the hearts that are true     And the land where the true hearts dwell.

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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 fervent celebration of nationalistic pride and a homage to England, its people, and their craftsmanship. The central theme is the symbolic representation of England's strength and honor through the metaphorical use of a bow, its components, and the archers who wield it. Each stanza explores a different part of the bow - the wood, cord, shaft, and mark - each time emphasizing their English origins and attributing to them qualities of durability, strength, and precision.

The poem's structure, with its consistent rhyming scheme and rhythm, adds to the work's overall patriotic tone, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a folk song or a rallying cry. The repetitive nature of each stanza, the use of parallelism, and the simple language create a sense of unity and collective identity. The final stanza shifts focus from the weapon to the men who use it, the "bowmen--the yeomen," tying human courage and integrity to the earlier descriptions of the bow and its components. The poem ends with a toast "to the hearts that are true," effectively encapsulating the poem's celebration of English courage, resilience, and national pride.

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.