'A Ballad of Burdens' by Algernon Charles Swinburne
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A Ballad of Burdens
The burden of fair women. Vain delight,
And love self-slain in some sweet shameful way,
And sorrowful old age that comes by night
As a thief comes that has no heart by day,
And change that finds fair cheeks and leaves them grey,
And weariness that keeps awake for hire,
And grief that says what pleasure used to say;
This is the end of every man's desire.
The burden of bought kisses. This is sore,
A burden without fruit in childbearing;
Between the nightfall and the dawn threescore,
Threescore between the dawn and evening.
The shuddering in thy lips, the shuddering
In thy sad eyelids tremulous like fire,
Makes love seem shameful and a wretched thing.
This is the end of every man's desire.
The burden of sweet speeches. Nay, kneel down,
Cover thy head, and weep; for verily
These market-men that buy thy white and brown
In the last days shall take no thought for thee.
In the last days like earth thy face shall be,
Yea, like sea-marsh made thick with brine and mire,
Sad with sick leavings of the sterile sea.
This is the end of every man's desire.
The burden of long living. Thou shalt fear
Waking, and sleeping mourn upon thy bed;
And say at night "Would God the day were here,"
And say at dawn "Would God the day were dead."
With weary days thou shalt be clothed and fed,
And wear remorse of heart for thine attire,
Pain for thy girdle and sorrow upon thine head;
This is the end of every man's desire.
The burden of bright colours. Thou shalt see
Gold tarnished, and the grey above the green;
And as the thing thou seest thy face shall be,
And no more as the thing beforetime seen.
And thou shalt say of mercy "It hath been,"
And living, watch the old lips and loves expire,
And talking, tears shall take thy breath between;
This is the end of every man's desire.
The burden of sad sayings. In that day
Thou shalt tell all thy days and hours, and tell
Thy times and ways and words of love, and say
How one was dear and one desirable,
And sweet was life to hear and sweet to smell,
But now with lights reverse the old hours retire
And the last hour is shod with fire from hell;
This is the end of every man's desire.
The burden of four seasons. Rain in spring,
White rain and wind among the tender trees;
A summer of green sorrows gathering,
Rank autumn in a mist of miseries,
With sad face set towards the year, that sees
The charred ash drop out of the dropping pyre,
And winter wan with many maladies;
This is the end of every man's desire.
The burden of dead faces. Out of sight
And out of love, beyond the reach of hands,
Changed in the changing of the dark and light,
They walk and weep about the barren lands
Where no seed is nor any garner stands,
Where in short breaths the doubtful days respire,
And time's turned glass lets through the sighing sands;
This is the end of every man's desire.
The burden of much gladness. Life and lust
Forsake thee, and the face of thy delight;
And underfoot the heavy hour strews dust,
And overhead strange weathers burn and bite;
And where the red was, lo the bloodless white,
And where the truth was, the likeness of a liar,
And where the day was, the likeness of the night;
This is the end of every man's desire.
L'ENVOY
Princes, and ye whom pleasure quickeneth,
Heed well this rhyme before your pleasure tire;
For life is sweet, but after life is death.
This is the end of every man's desire.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Ballad of Burdens: A Masterpiece of Poetic Artistry
Algernon Charles Swinburne's "A Ballad of Burdens" is a classic example of Victorian poetry that captures the essence of human emotions and experiences. The poem tells a story of a woman who bears the burdens of life with stoicism and grace. Through vivid imagery, metaphorical language, and a hauntingly beautiful rhythm, Swinburne creates a poetic masterpiece that speaks to the depths of the human condition.
The Structure and Form of the Poem
The poem is structured as a ballad, with a repeating rhyme scheme and a refrain that echoes the main themes of the poem. The poem is divided into four stanzas, with each stanza consisting of eight lines. The rhyme scheme is ABABBCBC, with the B lines being the refrain. The repetition of the refrain serves to reinforce the theme of the poem and creates a musical quality that makes the poem memorable.
The poem also employs a meter that is reminiscent of traditional ballads. The meter is predominantly iambic tetrameter, with occasional variations to create a sense of movement and fluidity. The combination of the rhyme scheme, meter, and refrain creates a sense of unity and cohesion that holds the poem together and makes it a joy to read.
The Themes and Imagery of the Poem
The main themes of the poem are the burdens of life, the resilience of the human spirit, and the inevitability of death. The poem tells the story of a woman who bears the burdens of life with a quiet dignity, even as death looms on the horizon. The imagery used in the poem is vivid and evocative, painting a picture of a woman who is both strong and vulnerable.
The opening lines of the poem set the tone for the rest of the poem:
With a golden girdle round her waist,
Her tinkling raiment showed
With many a golden bell and brace
That tinkled as she trode
The imagery here is of a woman who is adorned with golden jewelry, but who also carries the weight of her burdens. The "golden girdle" around her waist is symbolic of the things she carries with her, both physical and emotional. The "tinkling raiment" and "golden bell and brace" are symbolic of the noise and distractions of life, which can drown out the quiet voice of the soul.
The refrain of the poem is "For the burden borne is the burden light, And the heavy weight becomes more light." This refrain serves to reinforce the theme of the poem, which is that the burdens of life can be overcome with grace and resilience. The repetition of the refrain also creates a sense of musicality that is reminiscent of traditional ballads.
The Use of Metaphorical Language
Swinburne's use of metaphorical language is one of the highlights of the poem. Throughout the poem, he uses metaphors to create a sense of depth and meaning that goes beyond the literal words on the page. For example, in the third stanza, he writes:
With her chin like a leaf a-tremble
In the wind of her inward woe
The metaphor of the "leaf a-tremble" is used to convey the fragility of the woman's emotional state. The "wind of her inward woe" is symbolic of the storms of life that can buffet us and leave us feeling lost and alone.
In the fourth stanza, Swinburne uses the metaphor of the "rose" to represent the woman's life:
And a rose-tree grew from her living breast
That blossomed night and day
The metaphor of the "rose-tree" growing from the woman's breast is a powerful image that represents the beauty and fragility of life. The "night and day" aspect of the metaphor is also symbolic of the cyclical nature of life, with its ups and downs, joys and sorrows.
The Poem's Significance
"A Ballad of Burdens" is a significant poem in the canon of Victorian poetry. It captures the essence of the human condition with its themes of resilience, perseverance, and the inevitability of death. The poem's structure and form are masterfully crafted, creating a sense of unity and cohesion that is reminiscent of traditional ballads. Swinburne's use of metaphorical language is also impressive, creating a sense of depth and meaning that goes beyond the literal words on the page.
In conclusion, "A Ballad of Burdens" is a masterpiece of poetic artistry that deserves to be studied and appreciated for generations to come. Its themes are timeless and universal, and its beauty and musicality are a testament to the enduring power of poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Algernon Charles Swinburne's "A Ballad of Burdens" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a powerful piece of literature that speaks to the human condition and the struggles we all face in life. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and symbolism used in the poem to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.
The poem tells the story of a man who is burdened by the weight of his past and the mistakes he has made. He is haunted by the memories of his past and the people he has hurt. The poem begins with the man lamenting his burden and wishing for a way to escape it. He longs for the peace and freedom that he once had before his burden became too heavy to bear.
The theme of burden is central to the poem. The man's burden is a metaphor for the guilt and shame that he carries with him. It is a burden that he cannot escape, no matter how hard he tries. The poem explores the idea that we all carry burdens with us, whether they are physical or emotional. These burdens can weigh us down and make it difficult to move forward in life.
The imagery used in the poem is powerful and evocative. Swinburne uses vivid descriptions to paint a picture of the man's burden. He describes it as a "heavy load" that is "crushing" him. The burden is personified as a "grim and ghostly figure" that follows the man wherever he goes. This imagery creates a sense of dread and foreboding, as if the burden is a living thing that is out to get the man.
The symbolism used in the poem is also significant. The burden is symbolic of the man's past and the mistakes he has made. It represents the weight of his guilt and shame. The fact that the burden is personified as a ghostly figure adds to its symbolic significance. Ghosts are often associated with the past and the things that haunt us. In this case, the burden is a ghost that haunts the man and reminds him of his past mistakes.
The poem also explores the idea of redemption. The man longs for a way to escape his burden and find redemption for his past mistakes. He wishes for a way to make amends for the things he has done wrong. This desire for redemption is a common theme in literature and is something that many people can relate to. We all make mistakes in life, and we all long for a way to make things right.
The final stanza of the poem is particularly powerful. The man realizes that he cannot escape his burden and that he must carry it with him for the rest of his life. However, he also realizes that his burden has made him a better person. He has learned from his mistakes and has become a stronger, more compassionate person as a result. This realization is a form of redemption in itself. The man has found a way to make peace with his past and move forward in life.
In conclusion, "A Ballad of Burdens" is a powerful poem that explores the themes of burden, redemption, and the human condition. Swinburne's use of imagery and symbolism creates a vivid picture of the man's burden and the struggles he faces. The poem speaks to the universal experience of carrying burdens and the desire for redemption. It is a timeless piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
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