A Valentine

By Madison Julius Cawein

Lyric Poem
    My life is grown a witchcraft place     Through gazing on thy form and face.     Now 't is thy Smile's soft sorcery     That makes my soul a melody.     Now 't is thy Frown, that comes and goes,     That makes my heart a page of prose.     Some day, perhaps, a word of thine     Will change me to thy VALENTINE.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem presents a captivating exploration of love's transformative power, crafting a narrative of enchantment and emotional metamorphosis. The speaker's life is described as a "witchcraft place," affected by the beloved's physical appearance and emotional expressions. This theme of transformation is reinforced through the use of metaphors that describe the speaker's soul as a melody and heart as a page of prose, both altered by the beloved's smile and frown respectively.

The tone of the poem is deeply romantic, filled with longing and anticipation. The speaker seems to be under a spell, completely consumed by the beloved's influence. The structure of the poem is simple and straightforward, with the first two stanzas establishing the bewitching influence of the beloved's expressions, and the final line expressing a hope for reciprocation of love. The use of capitalized "VALENTINE" adds emphasis and weight to this hope, serving as a powerful conclusion to the poem.

The poem employs the literary device of personification, assigning human traits to abstract concepts like the soul and heart, thereby making them more relatable and evocative. It also uses the contrasting imagery of music and prose to illustrate the changing emotional states caused by the beloved's smile and frown. Overall, this poem presents a beautiful portrayal of the transformative power of love, using vivid imagery and metaphors to convey the speaker's intense emotional experience.

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.