The Call

By John Frederick Freeman

Ballad
    Is it the wind that stirs the trees,     Is it the trees that scratch the wall,     Is it the wall that shakes and mutters,     Is it a dumb ghost's call?     The wind steals in and twirls the candle,     The branches heave and brush the wall,     But more than tree or wild wind mutters     This night, this night of all.     "Open!" a cry sounds, and I gasp.     "Open!" and hands beat door and wall.     "Open!" and each dark echo mutters.     I rise, a shape and shadow tall.     "Open!" Across the room I falter,     And near the door crouch by the wall;     Thrice bolt the door as the voice mutters     "Open!" and frail strokes fall.     "Open!" The light's out, and I shrink     Quaking and blind against the wall;     "Open!" no sound is, yet it mutters     Within me now, this night of all.     Was it the wind that stirred the trees,     Was it the trees that scratched the wall,     Was it the wall that shook and muttered.     Or Love's last, ghostly call?

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This intriguing poem elegantly interweaves themes of fear, uncertainty, and love, utilizing a haunting, suspenseful tone to convey the speaker's internal struggle. The poet skillfully employs repetition and personification to build a sense of dread and ambiguity. The repeated questioning of whether it's the wind, the trees, or the wall creating the disturbances emphasizes the speaker's confusion and apprehension. The personification of these elements also creates a spectral world, further amplifying the uncanny atmosphere.

The poem is structured in a way that progressively intensifies the speaker's fear and bewilderment, leading to a climactic revelation. The recurring cry of "Open!" and its associated actions serve as a powerful motif, driving the narrative and mirroring the speaker's escalating terror. The final line, revealing the possibility of the disturbances being "Love's last, ghostly call," introduces a poignant twist, suggesting a deeper emotional turmoil. The use of lowercase for 'love' subtly implies that it is not a person but the concept or feeling that haunts the speaker. In essence, this poem provides a captivating exploration of fear and love, cleverly employing literary devices to create an atmosphere of suspense and emotional complexity.

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.