The Creek

By Madison Julius Cawein

Ballad
O cheerly, cheerly by the road And merrily down the billet; And where the acre-field is sowed With bristle-bearded millet. Then o'er a pebbled path that goes, Through vista and through dingle, Unto a farmstead's windowed rose, And roof of moss and shingle. O darkly, darkly through the bush, And dimly by the bowlder, Where cane and water-cress grow lush, And woodland wilds are older. Then o'er the cedared way that leads, Through burr and bramble-thickets, Unto a burial-ground of weeds Fenced in with broken pickets. Then sadly, sadly down the vale, And wearily through the rushes, Where sunlight of the noon is pale, And e'en the zephyr hushes. For oft her young face smiled upon My deeps here, willow-shaded; And oft with bare feet in the sun My shallows there she waded. No more beneath the twinkling leaves Shall stand the farmer's daughter! Sing softly past the cottage eaves, O memory-haunted water! No more shall bend her laughing face Above me where the rose is! Sigh softly past the burial-place, Where all her youth reposes!

Share & Analyze This Poem

Spread the beauty of poetry or dive deeper into analysis

Analyze This Poem

Discover the literary devices, structure, and deeper meaning

Create Image

Transform this poem into a beautiful shareable image

Copy to Clipboard

Save this poem for personal use or sharing offline

Share the Love of Poetry
More Poems
More Ballads
Daily Poem

Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a rich and evocative piece that explores themes of memory, loss, and longing, set against the backdrop of a vividly depicted rural landscape. The poet employs a rhythmic and rhymed verse structure, lending the poem a sense of movement that mirrors the journey described within its lines. This journey takes the reader through various natural scenes, from the lively and cheerful road and fields of the opening lines to the darker and more somber woodland and burial ground. These dynamic shifts in scenery effectively evoke the emotional highs and lows experienced in the face of love and loss.

The poet's choice of language and imagery is particularly notable. Words like "cheerly," "merrily," "darkly," and "sadly" not only set the tone for each stanza but also contribute to the overall mood of the poem. These adverbs, combined with vivid descriptions of natural elements — the "bristle-bearded millet," the "pebbled path," the "burial-ground of weeds" — create a vivid sensory experience that enhances the emotional depth of the poem. The repeated use of "O" at the beginning of several stanzas adds a touch of antiquity and formality, while the recurring water imagery, culminating with the "memory-haunted water," symbolizes the flow of time and the persistence of memory. The final stanzas, revealing the object of the speaker's longing — a farmer's daughter who is no longer alive — are poignant and deeply moving, leaving a lasting impression of the enduring power of love and memory.

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.