Alaskan Balladry, No. 1

By Eugene Field

Ballad
    The Northland reared his hoary head     And spied the Southland leagues away--     "Fairest of all fair brides," he said,     "Be thou my bride, I pray!"     Whereat the Southland laughed and cried     "I'll bide beside my native sea,     And I shall never be thy bride     'Til thou com'st wooing me!"     The Northland's heart was a heart of ice,     A diamond glacier, mountain high--     Oh, love is sweet at my price,     As well know you and I!     So gayly the Northland took his heart;     And cast it in the wailing sea--     "Go, thou, with all my cunning art     And woo my bride for me!"     For many a night and for many a day,     And over the leagues that rolled between     The true heart messenger sped away     To woo the Southland queen.     But the sea wailed loud, and the sea wailed long     While ever the Northland cried in glee:     "Oh, thou shalt sing us our bridal song,     When comes my bride, O sea!"     At the foot of the Southland's golden throne     The heart of the Northland ever throbs--     For that true heart speaks in the waves that moan     The songs that it sings are sobs.     Ever the Southland spurns the cries     Of the messenger pleading the Northland's     part--     The summer shines in the Southland's eyes--     The winter bides in her heart.     And ever unto that far-off place     Which love doth render a hallow spot,     The Northland turneth his honest face     And wonders she cometh not.     The sea wails loud, and the sea wails long,     As the ages of waiting drift slowly by,     But the sea shall sing no bridal song--     As well know you and I!

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a vivid personification of the North and South lands, employing an allegory of a lover's quest to win the heart of his beloved. The Northland, depicted as a cold and distant realm, yearns for the warmth and beauty of the Southland, casting its heart into the sea as a messenger. This theme of unrequited love, longing, and futility resonates throughout the poem.

The poet's use of natural elements as metaphors is particularly striking - the Northland's heart is an 'ice diamond glacier, mountain high', signifying the daunting and seemingly insurmountable task of winning the Southland's love. The sea is presented as the intermediary, its wailing and moaning representing the Northland's persistent, yet unreciprocated, pleas. Furthermore, the Southland's refusal to accept the Northland's advances, choosing instead to remain by her 'native sea', underscores the theme of regional loyalty and the idea of insurmountable differences.

The poem's structure also enhances its themes and message, with the repeated refrains of the sea's wailing and the Northland's never-ending waiting creating a melancholic rhythm and tone. The poignant ending, where it is implied that the bridal song will never be sung, reinforces the poem's overarching theme of unfulfilled yearning. The poem, thus, stands as a touching portrayal of love, longing, and the inevitable distance that often exists between desire and reality.

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.