A Book For The King

Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox

    A book has been made for the King,
    A book of beauty and art;
    To the good king's eyes
    A smile shall rise
    Hiding the ache in his heart - 
    Hiding the hurt and the grief
    As he turns it, leaf by leaf.

    A book has been made for the King,
    A book of blood and of blight;
    To the Great King's eyes
    A look shall rise
    That will blast and wither and smite - 
    Yes, smite with a just God's rage,
    As He turns it, page by page.
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Type of Poem: Ballad

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem explores contrasting themes of beauty and suffering, art and destruction, primarily through the symbolic motif of a book. The book serves as a metaphorical conduit for both the joys and sorrows of life, the duality of human experience. The repetition of "A book has been made for the King" in both stanzas underscores the poem's cyclical nature and the inevitable interplay of light and dark in human existence.

The tone of the poem oscillates between reverence and melancholy, with an undercurrent of foreboding, particularly in the second stanza where references to "blood and blight" and "a just God's rage" introduce a sense of divine justice or retribution. The poem's structure, with its consistent rhyme scheme and rhythm, enhances the solemn, almost ritualistic atmosphere. There is a palpable tension in the juxtaposition of the king's external reactions ("A smile shall rise", "A look shall rise") and his internal emotional state ("Hiding the ache in his heart", "That will blast and wither and smite"). This use of irony serves to highlight the poem's central exploration of the dichotomy of human experience.

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.