At The Stile.

Author: Madison Julius Cawein


    Young Harry leapt over the stile and kissed her,
     Over the stile the stars a-winking;
    He thought it was Mary, 't was Mary's sister 
     And love hath a way of thinking.

    "Thy pail, sweetheart, I will take and carry." 
     Over the stile the stars hang yellow. 
    "Just to the spring, my sweetheart Harry." 
     And love is a heartless fellow.

    "Thou saidst me yea when the frost did shower
     Over the stile from stars a-shiver." 
    "I say thee nay now the cherry-trees flower,
     And love is taker and giver."

    "O false! thou art false to me, sweetheart!" 
     Over the stile the stars a-glister.
    "To thee, the stars, and myself, sweetheart,
     I never was aught save Mary's sister.

    "Sweet Mary's sister and thou my Harry,
     Her Harry and mine, but mine the weeping:
    In a month or twain you two will marry 
     And I in my grave be sleeping."

    Alone among the meadows of millet,
     Over the stile the stars pursuing,
    Some tears in her pail as she stoops to fill it 
     And love hath a way of doing.

Type of Poem: Ballad

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem executes a poignant exploration of unrequited love, mistaken identities, and the inevitability of heartache. The central figures are Young Harry, Mary, and Mary's sister, with their relationships forming the crux of the narrative. The recurring motif of the stile, a point of transition, and the stars, symbolizing both destiny and guidance, provide a consistent backdrop against which the drama unfolds.

The structure of the poem is consistent, with each stanza split into a quatrain and a couplet. This structure creates a rhythm and flow that carries the reader through the narrative. The quatrains primarily focus on the dialogue or action, while the couplets offer reflective, often symbolic statements. Throughout the poem, the tone fluctuates between hopeful, melancholic, and somber as the dynamics between the characters shift.

In terms of literary devices, the poet employs repetition and personification effectively. “Over the stile the stars...” begins many lines, grounding the poem in its physical and emotional setting. Love is personified as both a 'heartless fellow' and a 'taker and giver,' indicating its capricious nature. Meanwhile, the repetition of 'sweetheart' adds a layer of irony as the affectionate term becomes a reminder of the unfulfilled love between Harry and Mary's sister. The final image of tears in the pail is a powerful symbol of the silent sorrow carried by the sister, a fitting end to this tale of love's complexities and cruelties.

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.