On The Farm

By Madison Julius Cawein

Ballad
I. He sang a song as he sowed the field, Sowed the field at break of day: "When the pursed-up leaves are as lips that yield Balm and balsam, and Spring, - concealed In the odorous green, - is so revealed,          Halloo and oh! Hallo for the woods and the far away!" II. He trilled a song as he mowed the mead, Mowed the mead as noon begun: "When the hills are gold with the ripened seed, As the sunset stairs that loom and lead To the sky where Summer knows naught of need,          Halloo and oh! Hallo for the hills and the harvest sun!" III. He hummed a song as he swung the flail, Swung the flail in the afternoon: "When the idle fields are a wrecker's tale, That the Autumn tells to the twilight pale, As the Year turns seaward a crimson sail,          Halloo and oh! Hallo for the fields and the hunter's-moon!" IV. He whistled a song as he shouldered his axe, Shouldered his axe in the evening storm: "When the snow of the road shows the rabbit's tracks, And the wind is a whip that the Winter cracks, With a herdsman's cry, o'er the clouds' black backs,          Halloo and oh! Hallo for home and a hearth to warm!"

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem presents an engaging and rich exploration of the human relationship with nature and the cyclical passage of time, expressed through the perspective of a laborer whose work is intimately connected to the changing seasons. The structure of the poem, divided into four distinct stanzas, mirrors the cycle of a year, with each stanza representing a particular season, beginning with spring and ending in winter. The poet's use of rhythm and rhyme imbues the poem with a musical quality that harmonizes with the protagonist's songs, bringing a sense of life and motion to the static words on a page.

The protagonist's songs in each stanza, paired with his various actions, create a vivid picture of his interactions with the natural world. This speaks to the theme of man's unity with nature, a connection that is both life-giving and life-sustaining. The repetition of the phrase "Halloo and oh!" followed by a call to a natural element (woods, hills, fields, home) creates a refrain that punctuates each stanza, reinforcing this theme and providing a rhythm to the laborer's work and life. The tone throughout the poem is one of celebration and reverence for the natural world and its cycles. The poet's use of rich, evocative imagery - "sunset stairs that loom and lead" or "Year turns seaward a crimson sail" - imbues the poem with a sense of wonder and respect for the grandeur of nature and the passage of time. Thus, the poem becomes a rich tapestry of work, song, and nature, skillfully woven together to tell a story that is at once personal and universal.

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.