An Excuse For Lalage

Author: Eugene Field

    To bear the yoke not yet your love's submissive neck is bent,
    To share a husband's toil, or grasp his amorous intent;
    Over the fields, in cooling streams, the heifer longs to go,
    Now with the calves disporting where the pussy-willows grow.

    Give up your thirst for unripe grapes, and, trust me, you shall learn
    How quickly in the autumn time to purple they will turn.
    Soon she will follow you, for age steals swiftly on the maid;
    And all the precious years that you have lost she will have paid.

    Soon she will seek a lord, beloved as Pholoe, the coy,
    Or Chloris, or young Gyges, that deceitful, girlish boy,
    Whom, if you placed among the girls, and loosed his flowing locks,
    The wondering guests could not decide which one decorum shocks.
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Type of Poem: Lyric Poem

Date Written:

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Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

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Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: The poem is a rich exploration of themes of love, maturation, and the passing of time. Its tone is largely cautionary, offering advice to a person who seems to be rushing into a love affair. The poet employs a pastoral setting to frame this advice, utilizing imagery of heifers, fields, and streams to evoke a sense of natural progression and growth. This pastoral setting serves to underline the poet's message about the importance of patience and allowing things to develop naturally.

The poem is structured in quatrains with a clear rhythm and rhyme scheme, lending a musical quality to the verse that enhances its storytelling. The poet uses metaphor as a standout literary device, notably comparing a woman to a heifer and unripe grapes to immature love. These metaphors suggest that love, like nature, needs time to mature and cannot be rushed. The final quatrain introduces the theme of deceptive appearances, further complicating the poem's exploration of love and desire. It serves as a final warning about the dangers of rushing into love, reinforcing the poet's overarching message about the need for patience and understanding in matters of the heart.

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.