At The Ferry.

By Madison Julius Cawein

Ballad
    Oh, dim and wan came in the dawn,      And gloomy closed the day;     The killdee whistled among the weeds,     The heron flapped in the river reeds,      And the snipe piped far away.     At dawn she stood - her dark gray hood      Flung back - in the ferry-boat;     Sad were the eyes that watched him ride,     Her raider love, from the riverside,      His kiss on her mouth and throat.     Like some wild spell the twilight fell,      And black the tempest came;     The heavens seemed filled with the warring dead,     Whose batteries opened overhead      With thunder and with flame.     At night again in the wind and rain,      She toiled at the ferry oar;     For she heard a voice in the night and storm,     And it seemed that her lover's shadowy form      Beckoned her to the shore.     And swift to save she braved the wave,      And reached the shore and found     His riderless horse, with head hung low,     A blur of blood on the saddle-bow,      And the empty night around.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a powerful narrative that oscillates between the natural world and human emotions, weaving a story of love, loss, and longing. The poem's tone is predominately melancholic and somber, underscored by the use of imagery that reflects elements of nature in a state of despair, such as the dim dawn, gloomy day, and the black tempest.

The central theme centers around a woman's sorrowful longing for her lost love, depicted through dramatic and emotionally charged scenes. The structure of the poem, with its consistent rhythm and rhyme scheme, serves to heighten the tension and drama in the narrative.

One significant literary device used is personification, with nature actively participating in the narrative, reflecting and amplifying the woman's emotional state. The "warring dead" in the heavens, for example, underscores the turmoil she feels within herself. The use of vivid imagery, like the "blur of blood on the saddle-bow," adds a stark realism to the poem, serving to intensify the sense of loss and desperation. The poem's final line, "And the empty night around," is a poignant encapsulation of her loneliness and despair. The poem, in essence, is a tragic love story beautifully framed within the raw and unyielding forces of nature.

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.