The City Of Darkness

By Madison Julius Cawein

Ballad
Wide-walled it stands in heathen lands Beside a mystic sea, With streets strange-trod of many a god, And templed blasphemy. Far in the night, a rose of light It shines beside the sea; But overhead an unknown dread Impends eternally. There is a sound above, around Of music by the sea; And weird and wide the torches glide Of pagan revelry. There is a noise as of a voice That calls beneath the sea; And all the deep grows pale with sleep And vague expectancy. Then slowly up - as from a cup Seethes poison - lifts the sea; Wild mass on mass, as in black glass, The town glows fiery. Red-lit it glowers like Hell's dark towers Set in the iron sea; And monster swarms with awful forms Roll though it cloudily. Still overhead the unknown dread, Whose shadow dyes the sea, At wrath-winged wait behind its gate Till God shall set it free. A taloned flash, an earthquake crash, And, lo! upon the sea, Black wall on wall, a giant pall, Night settles hideously. And where it burned, a rose inurned, Red in the vasty sea, The phantasm of the dread above Sits in immensity.

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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 elaborate juxtaposition of the sacred and the profane, with a narrative that explores the dichotomy between the beauty of human achievement and the potential for human destructiveness. The setting, an ancient town by the sea, is described with both awe and dread, encapsulating the complexity of human existence itself.

The poem's tone fluctuates between admiration and horror. At first, the town is presented as a beacon of light in the darkness, a symbol of human ingenuity. However, as the poem unravels, elements of impending doom are introduced, revealing the town's potential for destruction. This progression allows the poem to subtly employ foreshadowing, creating tension that culminates in the town's fiery demise.

The poem's structure is consistent, using a rhyming scheme that gives a rhythmic quality to the narration. This rhythm, combined with the vivid imagery and metaphors used throughout, contribute to the haunting and melancholic atmosphere of the poem. The use of alliteration, particularly with 's' sounds, also adds to the eerie, suspenseful mood.

Moreover, the poem employs the sea as a recurring symbol which takes on different meanings as the narrative unfolds. Initially, the sea is a mystic entity, a silent observer to the town's grandeur. As the poem progresses, the sea transforms into a mirror, reflecting the town's fate, and subsequently, a grave, swallowing the town in its depths. The sea, therefore, becomes a powerful metaphor for the cyclical nature of life and death, and the inevitable fate that awaits all human creations.

In conclusion, this poem offers a profound exploration of human existence, encapsulating its grandeur, its potential for destructiveness, and its inevitable impermanence. The combination of vivid imagery, rhythmic structure, and thoughtful metaphors makes it a compelling piece of literature.

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.