Author: Arthur Hugh Clough

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    Dance on, dance on, we see, we see
    Youth goes, alack, and with it glee,
    A boy the old man neer can be;
    Maternal thirty scarce can find
    The sweet sixteen long left behind;
    Old folks must toil, and scrape, and strain,
    That boys and girls may once again
    Be that for them they cannot be,
    But which it gives them joy to see,
    Youth goes and glee; but not in vain
    Young folks if only you remain.

    Dance on, dance on, tis joy to see;
    The dry red leaves on winters tree,
    Can feel the new sap rising free.
    On, on, young folks; so you survive,
    The dead themselves are still alive;
    The blood in dull parental veins
    Long numbed, a tingling life regains.
    Deep down in earth, the tough old root
    Is conscious still of flower and fruit.
    Spring goes and glee but were not vain:
    In you, young folks, they come again.

    Dance on, dance on, we see, we feel;
    Wind, wind your waltzes, wind and wheel,
    Our senses too with music reel;
    Nor let your pairs neglect to fill
    The old ancestral scorned quadrille.
    Let hand the hand uplifted seek,
    And pleasure fly from cheek to cheek;
    Love too; but gently, nor astray,
    And yet, deluder, yet in play.
    Dance on; youth goes: but alls not vain,
    Young folks, if only you remain.

    Dance on, dance on, tis joy to see;
    We once were nimble een as ye,
    And danced to give the oldest glee;
    O wherefore add, as we, you too,
    Once gone your prime cannot renew;
    You too, like us, at last shall stand
    To watch and not to join the band,
    Content some day (a far-off day)
    To your supplanters soft to say,
    Youth goes, but goes not all in vain,
    Young folks, so only you remain,
    Dance on, dance on, tis joy to see.

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Type of Poem: Lyric Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem is a reflective and meditative piece, filled with themes of youth, aging, and the cyclical nature of life. It vividly contrasts the vitality of youth with the inevitable decline of age, while maintaining a hopeful tone by focusing on the continuity of joy and life through younger generations. As a poetry professor, I would break down the poem into the following key elements:

Structure and Form
The poem follows a consistent pattern of couplets, rhyming AABB throughout each stanza. This creates a sense of balance and rhythm, which is reinforced by the recurring refrain "Dance on, dance on." This repetition evokes the circular nature of both dance and life, emphasizing the continuity from one generation to the next. The poem's rhythm, much like a dance, moves fluidly, drawing the reader into its reflective, almost wistful tone.

Themes
Youth and Age: One of the central themes of the poem is the transient nature of youth. The lines "Youth goes, alack, and with it glee" and "We once were nimble een as ye" directly address the loss of youth and the energy that accompanies it. The older generation watches the young "dance on," recalling their own past vitality, but they are now relegated to observers. This creates a poignant sense of nostalgia, but it is softened by the acknowledgment that the joy of youth continues through others.

Generational Continuity: The poem doesn't dwell on loss alone. While youth and joy pass for the older generation, they take solace in the fact that these qualities are renewed in the young: "In you, young folks, they come again." There is an acceptance that even though individual vitality fades, it lives on through younger people. This cyclical nature of life brings a sense of comfort and continuity, as seen in the lines "The dead themselves are still alive" and "Spring goes and glee but were not vain."

Joy and Celebration: The poem celebrates the joy of youth and the beauty of life at its prime. The dance becomes a metaphor for the exuberance of youth, a carefree celebration of the moment. The joy of watching the young dance offers the older generation a form of vicarious pleasure, as indicated in the refrain, "Dance on, dance on, 'tis joy to see."

Inevitability of Aging: The inevitability of aging is another important theme. The speaker reflects on how all generations must eventually transition from participants in the dance to mere spectators: "You too, like us, at last shall stand / To watch and not to join the band." However, this inevitability is not presented as a tragedy but as a natural part of life’s cycle.

Imagery
Nature: The poem uses natural imagery to highlight the themes of renewal and the passage of time. The "dry red leaves on winter's tree" evoke aging and decline, but the "new sap rising free" suggests renewal and the hope that comes with youth. The image of the "tough old root" being "conscious still of flower and fruit" beautifully encapsulates how the older generation remains connected to the vibrancy of youth, even in old age.

Dance: Dance is the central metaphor of the poem, symbolizing not only youthful joy but also the passage of time. It represents the continuous flow of life, where one generation steps aside for the next. The repetition of "Dance on" serves as both encouragement and a reminder of the transient nature of this joy.

Tone
The tone is both celebratory and wistful. There's joy in watching the youth carry on traditions, but there’s also a quiet sadness in the acceptance that one's own youth cannot be regained. Yet, the poem avoids becoming melancholic; it is hopeful in its recognition that life and joy are passed from one generation to the next.