Daybreak

By Harriet Annie Wilkins

Lyric Poem
    Turn thy fair face to the breaking dawn,     Lily so white, that through all the dark,     Hast kept lone watch on the dewy lawn,     Deeming thy comrades grown cold and stark;     Soon shall the sunbeam, joyous and strong,     Dry the tears in thy stamens of gold--     Glinteth the day up merry and long,         And the night grows old.     Turn thy fair face to Faith's rosy sky,     Soul so white that lone night hath kept     Sighing for spirits sin-bound that lie;     Wrong has ruled right, and the truth has slept;     The dawn shall show thee a host ere long,     Planting sweet roses abqve the mould;     The sun of righteousness beameth strong,         And sin's night grows old.     Turn thine eyes to the burnished zone     From out of thy nest neath darkened eaves,     Oh bird, who hast mingled thy plaintive moan     With sobbing winds through quivering leaves;     From thy heart, by light which groweth strong,     Draw out the thorns that pierced on the world;     Glinteth the day up merry and long,          And the night grows old.     Turn thy sad eyes to God's summerland,     Mourner, who waileth some love laid past,     Some bark that has anchored on foreign strand     And left her sailors free from the blast;     They are not here where the grass grows long,     They are not down in the red-brown mould;     Heaven's day is coming up fair and strong,         And earth's night grows old.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is beautifully layered with themes of renewal, faith, and resilience in the face of adversity. The poet uses personification of natural elements, such as a lily, a bird, and a mourner to evoke a sense of the cycle of life and death, with a clear emphasis on the arrival of a new dawn marking the end of hardship and the triumph of hope and light.

The poem's tone is both somber and hopeful, dwelling on solitude and struggle, but ultimately leading to a dawn filled with light and restoration. The poem's rhythmic structure provides a soothing cadence, reinforcing the theme of an emerging dawn and the cyclical nature of life.

The poet uses vivid imagery and natural metaphors to illustrate the transformation from darkness to light. The lily, for instance, is portrayed as a beacon of resilience, holding onto its purity throughout the darkness and waiting for the dawn. Similarly, the bird, despite its mournful song, is encouraged to turn towards the "burnished zone," a metaphor for the approach of dawn. The poet also uses spiritual metaphors, such as "Faith's rosy sky" and "God's summerland," pointing to a spiritual or divine intervention that brings about the dawn.

In essence, the poem is an uplifting meditation on the inevitable movement from darkness to light, both literally and metaphorically, reflecting a profound faith in the potential for renewal and the triumph of hope and righteousness. The recurring refrain, "And the night grows old," serves as a constant reminder of this transition and the relentless march of time towards a brighter future.

Exploring Lyric Poetry

Lyric poetry is a powerful and intimate form of expression, characterized by its focus on the personal emotions and thoughts of the poet. Often musical in nature, lyric poems resonate with readers through their vivid language and rhythmic flow, capturing moments of intense feeling.

Here are some key characteristics that define lyric poetry:

  • Expressive Language: Lyric poems use rich and evocative language to convey deep emotions, often painting a vivid picture of the poet's inner world.
  • Personal Perspective: Typically written in the first person, these poems offer a window into the poet's personal experiences, thoughts, and reflections.
  • Musicality: Lyric poems often feature a rhythmic structure, with meter and rhyme that give them a song-like quality, enhancing the emotional impact.

From ancient odes to contemporary free verse, lyric poetry remains a beloved and enduring form, celebrated for its ability to articulate the nuances of human emotion in a way that resonates deeply with readers.