Berrying

By Madison Julius Cawein

Ballad
    I.     My love went berrying     Where brooks were merrying     And wild wings ferrying         Heaven's amethyst;     The wildflowers blessed her,     My dearest Hester,     The winds caressed her,         The sunbeams kissed.     II.     I followed, carrying     Her basket; varying     Fond hopes of marrying         With hopes denied;     Both late and early     She deemed me surly,     And bowed her curly         Fair head and sighed:     III.     "The skies look lowery;     It will he showery;     No longer flowery         The way I find.     No use in going.     'T will soon be snowing     If you keep growing         Much more unkind."     IV.     Then looked up tearfully.     And I, all fearfully,     Replied, "My dear, fully         Will I explain:     I love you dearly,     But look not cheerly     Since all says clearly         I love in vain."     V.     Then smiled she airily;     And answered merrily     With words that - verily         Made me decide:     And drawing tow'rd her,     I there implored her -     I who adored her -         To be my bride.     VI.     O sweet simplicity     Of young rusticity,     Without duplicity,         Whom love made know,     That hearts in meter     Make earth completer;     And kisses, sweeter         Than - berries grow.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This charming and romantic poem employs a narrative style, taking the reader on a journey of love and courtship in a bucolic setting. The themes of love, nature, and hope are deeply interwoven in the poem, with the speaker's expressions of affection paralleling the vivid descriptions of the landscape. The tone is predominantly tender, wistful, and at times, playful, reflecting the speaker's shifting emotions throughout the course of the narrative.

Structurally, the poem is composed in a regular rhyme scheme, and the prominence of end rhymes contributes to a musical quality that enhances its emotive power. The use of alliteration and assonance, such as 'wild wings ferrying / Heaven's amethyst' and 'hearts in meter / Make earth completer', adds a lyrical richness to the verse. The poem also employs personification effectively, as seen in lines like 'The winds caressed her, / The sunbeams kissed', to further emphasize the intimate connection between the speaker's beloved and the natural world.

One of the standout features of the poem is its use of dialogue, which adds dynamism and immediacy to the unfolding love story. This grants the reader an intimate glimpse into the couple's interactions, further investing them in the narrative. The final stanza, with its evocation of 'sweet simplicity', 'young rusticity', and 'hearts in meter', serves as a poignant encapsulation of the poem's themes, leaving the reader with a sense of fulfilled longing and the enduring sweetness of love.

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.