Author: Banjo Paterson (Andrew Barton)
The chorus frogs in the big lagoon Would sing their songs to the silvery moon. Tenor singers were out of place, For every frog was a double bass. But never a human chorus yet Could beat the accurate time they set. The solo singer began the joke; He sang, "As long as I live I'll croak, Croak, I'll croak," And the chorus followed him: "Croak, croak, croak!" The poet frog, in his plaintive tone, Sang of a sorrow was all his own; "How shall I win to my heart's desire? How shall I feel my spirit's fire?" And the solo frog in his deepest croak, "To fire your spirit," he sang, "eat coke, Coke, eat coke," And the chorus followed him: "Coke, coke, coke!" The green frog sat in a swampy spot And he sang the song of he knew not what. "The world is rotten, oh cursed plight, That I am the frog that must set it right. How shall I scatter the shades that lurk?" And the old man bullfrog sang, "Get work, Work, get work," And the chorus followed him: "Work, work, work!" The soaring spirits that fain would fly On wings of hope to the starry sky Must face the snarls of the jealous dogs, For the world is ruled by its chorus frogs.
Type of Poem: Narrative Poem
Date Written:
Date Published:
Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Publisher:
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Comments/Notes: This poem employs the metaphor of a chorus of frogs to explore themes of individuality, societal expectations, and the struggle for personal expression within a conformist world. The frogs, with their unvarying double bass voices and precise rhythmic singing, represent a society that values uniformity and chastises deviation. The satire is palpable in the poet's characterisation of the frogs as self-important arbiters of the world, thus underscoring the absurdity of such societal norms.
The poem also plays on the tension between the aspiration for personal freedom and the constraints of societal norms. The frog-poet and the green frog are individuals who dare to question and express their unique perspectives, but their voices are drowned out by the monotonous croaking of the chorus. The poem thus underlines the struggle for individual expression in a society that prioritizes conformity. The tone is both humorous and poignant, with a touch of melancholy in the frog-poet's plaintive song. The poem's structure, with its repetition and rhymed verses, further enhances the satirical critique of societal conformity and the stifling of individual expression.
The concluding lines create a powerful image of 'soaring spirits' held down by the 'snarls of the jealous dogs' and the rule of the 'chorus frogs,' emphasizing the poet's critical stance on the suppression of individuality and creativity in a rigid societal framework. This poem, therefore, serves as a potent critique of a society that hinders individual expression and promotes mindless conformity.
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:
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.