Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox

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    Of all the waltzes the great Strauss wrote,
         Mad with melody, rhythm - rife
    From the very first to the final note.
         Give me his "Artist's Life!"

    It stirs my blood to my finger-ends,
         Thrills me and fills me with vague unrest,
    And all that is sweetest and saddest blends
         Together within my breast.

    It brings back that night in the dim arcade,
         In love's sweet morning and life's best prime,
    When the great brass orchestra played and played,
         And set our thoughts to rhyme.

    It brings back that Winter of mad delights,
         Of leaping pulses and tripping feet,
    And those languid moon-washed Summer nights
         When we heard the band in the street.

    It brings back rapture and glee and glow,
         It brings back passion and pain and strife,
    And so of all the waltzes I know,
         Give me the "Artist's Life."

    For it is so full of the dear old time - 
         So full of the dear old friends I knew.
    And under its rhythm, and lilt, and rhyme,
         I am always finding - YOU.

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Type of Poem: Lyric Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem beautifully encapsulates the nostalgic connection between music and memory, specifically focusing on the waltzes of Strauss. The speaker's strong emotional reaction to the "Artist's Life" waltz is palpable throughout the poem, highlighting how music can evoke powerful, personal responses. The speaker's longing for the past is clear, as he vividly recalls specific moments and emotions tied to the waltz, from "mad delights" to "pain and strife."

The structure of the poem, following a consistent AABB rhyme scheme, mirrors the rhythmic pattern of a waltz, making the poem itself a dance of words. The tone is both wistful and passionate, reflecting the mix of joy and sorrow that can accompany nostalgia. One standout literary device is the poet's use of synesthesia—describing one sensory experience in terms of another—to convey the intensity of the speaker's emotions. For example, the speaker mentions his "blood" being "stirred" and his thoughts being "set to rhyme" by the music. Furthermore, the repetition of "It brings back" emphasizes the cyclical nature of memory, reinforcing the theme of nostalgia. The final line, "I am always finding - YOU", reveals a romantic undertone, suggesting that the speaker's memories are not just of a time, but of a specific person, adding an additional layer of depth and personal resonance to the poem.