The Crickets Song

By Eugene Field

Narrative Poem
    When all around from out the ground     The little flowers are peeping,     And from the hills the merry rills     With vernal songs are leaping,     I sing my song the whole day long     In woodland, hedge, and thicket--     And sing it, too, the whole night through,     For I 'm a merry cricket.     The children hear my chirrup clear     As, in the woodland straying,     They gather flow'rs through summer hours--     And then I hear them saying:     "Sing, sing away the livelong day,     Glad songster of the thicket--     With your shrill mirth you gladden earth,     You merry little cricket!"     When summer goes, and Christmas snows     Are from the north returning,     I quit my lair and hasten where     The old yule-log is burning.     And where at night the ruddy light     Of that old log is flinging     A genial joy o'er girl and boy,     There I resume my singing.     And, when they hear my chirrup clear,     The children stop their playing--     With eager feet they haste to greet     My welcome music, saying:     "The little thing has come to sing     Of woodland, hedge, and thicket--     Of summer day and lambs at play--     Oh, how we love the cricket!"

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
The poem beautifully captures the harmony of nature and its influence on human life, with the central character being a merry cricket. The cricket symbolizes joy, continuity, and resilience, as it continues to sing "the whole day long" and "the whole night through." The repetition of the cricket's song underscores the consistent, enduring presence of nature and its ability to provide comfort and joy.

The poem's tone is cheerful, reflecting the cricket's own merry spirit, and its structure follows a regular rhythm and rhyme scheme, mirroring the cricket's consistent chirping. The setting transitions from the arrival of spring, with "little flowers" and "merry rills," to the depths of winter, where the cricket sings by the "yule-log." The changing seasons act as a backdrop to the cricket's unchanging song, highlighting the cyclical nature of life.

A standout literary device is personification, with the cricket portrayed as a joyful singer and the children as its appreciative audience. Their interaction evokes a sense of community and harmony between humans and nature. The children's repeated affirmation, "Oh, how we love the cricket!" underscores the theme of shared joy and mutual appreciation.

In conclusion, the poem is a celebration of nature's constancy, resilience, and its ability to inspire joy, with the cricket serving as a symbol of these qualities.

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.