The Morning-Glories

By Madison Julius Cawein

Narrative Poem
    They bloom up the fresh, green trellis      In airy, vigorous ease,     And their fragrant, sensuous honey      Is best beloved of the bees.     Oh! the rose knows the dainty secret      How the morning-glory blows,     For the rose told me the secret,      And the jessamine told the rose.     And the jessamine said at midnight,      Ere the red cock woke and crew,     That the fays of queen Titania      Came there to bathe in the dew.     And the merry moonlight glistened      On wet, long, yellow hair,     And their feet on the flowers drowsy      Trod softer than any air.     And their petticoats, gay as bubbles,      They hung up every one     On the morning-glories' tendrils      Till their moonlight bath were done.     But the red cock crew too early,      And the fays left hurriedly,     And this is why in the morning      Their petticoats there you see.

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 Narrative Poems
Daily Poem

Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a delightful blend of nature and fantasy, exuding a whimsical and enchanting tone. The initial stanzas focus on the natural world, specifically the relationship between flowers and bees, underscoring themes of symbiosis and the beauty of nature. The poet's use of personification and dialogue between the flowers - rose and jessamine - lends an air of magic and mystery.

The latter half of the poem sweeps us into a realm of fantasy with the introduction of "fays of queen Titania", evidently a reference to fairy folklore and Shakespearean mythology. Here, the poem's tone shifts from the merely sensory to the fantastical, as the fays are portrayed bathing in the dew and hanging their petticoats on the morning-glories' tendrils. The structure of the poem, consistent in its rhythm and rhyme, aids to its light, buoyant feel. The clever twist at the end, attributing an everyday sight (morning-glories' flowers) to a fairy's forgotten petticoat, leaves the reader with a sense of wonder, further enhancing the poem's playful charm.

Exploring Narrative Poetry

Narrative poetry is a form of poetry that tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator and characters as well. Unlike lyric poetry, which focuses on emotions and thoughts, narrative poetry is dedicated to storytelling, weaving tales that captivate readers through plot and character development.

Narrative poems are unique in their ability to combine the depth of storytelling with the expressive qualities of poetry. Here are some defining characteristics:

  • Structured Plot: Narrative poems typically have a clear beginning, middle, and end, following a plot that might involve conflict, climax, and resolution, much like a short story or novel.
  • Character Development: Characters in narrative poems are often well-developed, with distinct voices and personalities that drive the story forward.
  • Descriptive Language: The language used in narrative poetry is vivid and descriptive, painting a clear picture of the scenes and events, while also conveying the emotions and atmosphere of the story.

From ancient epics like "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" to more modern narrative poems, this form continues to engage readers by blending the art of storytelling with the beauty and rhythm of poetry.