Author: John Frederick Freeman
Frost in the air and music in the air, And the singing is sweet in the street. She wakes from a dream to a dream--O hark! The singing so faint in the dark. The musicians come and stand at the door, A fiddler and singers three, And one with a bright lamp thrusts at the dark, And the music comes sudden--O hark! She hears the singing as sweet as a dream And the fiddle that climbs to the sky, With head 'neath the curtain she stares out--O hark! The music so strange in the dark. She listens and looks and sees but the sky, While the fiddle is sweet in the porch, And she sings back into the singing dark Hark, herald angels, hark!
Type of Poem: Lyric Poem
Date Written:
Date Published:
Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Publisher:
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Comments/Notes: This poem effectively creates a vivid, dreamlike atmosphere through the use of repeated motifs and sensory language. The primary theme is the exploration of music as an ethereal, transformative force. The listener, presumably the "she" in the poem, is transported from her own reality into another, as if she is shifting between dreams. This is expressed through a combination of auditory and visual imagery, such as the "singing so sweet in the street" and the "fiddle that climbs to the sky."
The tone of the poem is enchanting and mysterious, achieved through the use of repetition and exclamation (O hark!). The structure of the poem, with its repeated calls to "hark" (listen), mirrors the thematic emphasis on active listening and the transformative power of sound. The phrase "O hark!" also adds a touch of archaic language that contributes to the overall ethereal tone. The ending line, "Hark, herald angels, hark!" is a possible allusion to the Christmas carol, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," which introduces a spiritual dimension to the poem, suggesting the music might possess a divine or otherworldly quality. This poem's success lies in its ability to create an immersive, sensory experience for the reader, using the power of music as a gateway into the realm of the sublime.
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:
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.