To Me At My Fifth-Floor Window

Author: William Ernest Henley

    To me at my fifth-floor window
    The chimney-pots in rows
    Are sets of pipes pandean
    For every wind that blows;

    And the smoke that whirls and eddies
    In a thousand times and keys
    Is really a visible music
    Set to my reveries.

    O monstrous pipes, melodious
    With fitful tune and dream,
    The clouds are your only audience,
    Her thought is your only theme!

    1875
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Type of Poem: Lyric Poem

Date Written:

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Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

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Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem is a beautiful exploration of the relationship between the human imagination and the urban environment, as seen through the eyes of a speaker observing their surroundings from a fifth-floor window. The use of personification and metaphor transforms ordinary chimney-pots into "pipes pandean," or Pan's pipes, an instrument traditionally associated with pastoral settings and the Greek god of nature, Pan. This suggests an interesting fusion of the natural and the industrial, a theme that pervades the poem.

The tone is one of dreamy introspection, with the speaker's reveries set to the "visible music" of the smoke. This evocative phrase again merges the tangible and intangible, sound and sight, in a synesthetic blend that underscores the poem's theme of imaginative perception. The structure of the poem is consistent, each stanza containing four lines, which adds a rhythmic quality that mirrors the imagined melodies. The final stanza introduces a sense of solitude, with the clouds as the only audience and the speaker's thoughts the only theme. This could be seen as a commentary on the isolation often found within urban settings, or perhaps a celebration of the private world of the imagination. The poem’s date, 1875, places it within the Victorian era, a time of significant urban expansion and industrialization, making the speaker's imaginative transformation of their surroundings even more poignant.

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.