A Fishermans Ba

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ballad
    Oh! hush little baby, thy Papa's at sea,     The big billows rock him as Mama rocks thee.     He hastes to his dear ones o'er breakers of foam.     Then hush little darling till Papa comes home.     Sleep little baby, hush little baby,     Papa is coming, no longer to roam.     The shells and the pebbles all day tossed about     Are lulled into sleep by the tide ebbing out.     The weary shore slumbers, stretched out in the sand,     While the waves hurry off at mid ocean's command.     Then hush little baby, sleep little darling,     Sleep baby, rocked by thy mother's own hand.     The winds that have rollicked all day in the west     Are soothed into sleep on the calm evening's breast.     The boats that were out with the wild sea at play     Are now rocked to sleep in the arms of the bay.     Then rest little baby, sleep little baby,     Papa will come at the break of the day.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
The poem is a gentle lullaby with an overarching theme of longing and separation, tinged with the comforting promise of reunion. The speaker comforts the child with the assurance of the father's return from sea, employing a tender, nurturing tone. The recurring refrain of 'hush little baby' and 'sleep little baby' reinforces this soothing, maternal atmosphere, providing the poem with a rhythmic, song-like quality that reinforces its status as a lullaby.

The poet masterfully uses the sea as an extended metaphor, drawing parallels between natural phenomena and human experiences. The father's journey at sea mirrors the baby's journey into sleep, and the mother's rocking of the baby is likened to the sea's rocking of the father's ship. This metaphor imbues the poem with a sense of unity and harmony, despite the physical separation of the family. Moreover, the poet's use of personification, such as the 'weary shore' and the 'winds that have rollicked', further enhances the vividness of the natural imagery and emphasises the tranquillity of the evening, adding to the poem's soothing effect. The structure of the poem, consisting of three stanzas each ending with the reassurance of the father's return, effectively conveys a sense of cyclical continuity and reassurance, mirroring the cyclical nature of day and night, and of the tides themselves.

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.