'My Lost Youth' by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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Often I think of the beautiful town
That is seated by the sea;
Often in thought go up and down
The pleasant streets of that dear old town,
And my youth comes back to me.
And a verse of a Lapland song
Is haunting my memory still:
"A boy's will is the wind's will,
And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."
I can see the shadowy lines of its trees,
And catch, in sudden gleams,
The sheen of the far-surrounding seas,
And islands that were the Hesperides
Of all my boyish dreams.
And the burden of that old song,
It murmurs and whispers still:
"A boy's will is the wind's will,
And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."
I remember the black wharves and the ships,
And the sea-tides tossing free;
And Spanish sailors with bearded lips,
And the beauty and mystery of the ships,
And the magic of the sea.
And the voice of that wayward song
Is singing and saying still:
"A boy's will is the wind's will,
And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."
I remember the bulwarks by the shore,
And the fort upon the hill;
The sunrise gun, with its hollow roar,
The drum-beat repeated o'er and o'er,
And the bugle wild and shrill.
And the music of that old song
Throbs in my memory still:
"A boy's will is the wind's will,
And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."
I remember the sea-fight far away,
How it thundered o'er the tide!
And the dead captains, as they lay
In their graves, o'erlooking the tranquil bay
Where they in battle died.
And the sound of that mournful song
Goes through me with a thrill:
"A boy's will is the wind's will,
And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."
I can see the breezy dome of groves,
The shadows of Deering's Woods;
And the friendships old and the early loves
Come back with a Sabbath sound, as of doves
In quiet neighborhoods.
And the verse of that sweet old song,
It flutters and murmurs still:
"A boy's will is the wind's will,
And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."
I remember the gleams and glooms that dart
Across the school-boy's brain;
The song and the silence in the heart,
That in part are prophecies, and in part
Are longings wild and vain.
And the voice of that fitful song
Sings on, and is never still:
"A boy's will is the wind's will,
And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."
There are things of which I may not speak;
There are dreams that cannot die;
There are thoughts that make the strong heart weak,
And bring a pallor into the cheek,
And a mist before the eye.
And the words of that fatal song
Come over me like a chill:
"A boy's will is the wind's will,
And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."
Strange to me now are the forms I meet
When I visit the dear old town;
But the native air is pure and sweet,
And the trees that o'ershadow each well-known street,
As they balance up and down,
Are singing the beautiful song,
Are sighing and whispering still:
"A boy's will is the wind's will,
And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."
And Deering's Woods are fresh and fair,
And with joy that is almost pain
My heart goes back to wander there,
And among the dreams of the days that were,
I find my lost youth again.
And the strange and beautiful song,
The groves are repeating it still:
"A boy's will is the wind's will,
And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."
Editor 1 Interpretation
An Ode to Longing: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation of "My Lost Youth" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
As I sit down to write about "My Lost Youth," I can't help but feel a sense of excitement rushing through my veins. After all, it's not every day that one gets to delve into the world of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a poet who has left an indelible mark on American literature. And what better place to start than with one of his most celebrated works, a poem that captures the essence of nostalgia and longing - "My Lost Youth."
In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in "My Lost Youth" to understand the poet's worldview and how he wove the fabric of his personal experiences into his art.
The Poem: A Brief Overview
Before we delve into the nuances of the poem, let's take a moment to understand its structure and form. "My Lost Youth" is a 14-stanza poem, each of which is made up of four lines. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB, and the poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which creates a rhythm that is easy on the ear.
The poem is autobiographical in nature, and it describes the poet's childhood memories of his hometown, Portland, Maine. Longfellow wrote this poem in 1855, 17 years after he left Portland to take up a teaching position at Harvard University.
The poem is divided into two parts - the first eight stanzas describe the poet's childhood memories of Portland, while the last six stanzas describe his present-day feelings of longing for his lost youth.
Nostalgia and Longing: The Central Themes of the Poem
As we begin to unpack the poem, it becomes clear that its central themes are nostalgia and longing. Longfellow uses the poem as a vehicle to express his deep longing for the carefree days of his youth and to mourn the passage of time.
The poem begins with the lines,
Often I think of the beautiful town
That is seated by the sea;
Often in thought go up and down
The pleasant streets of that dear old town,
These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with vivid descriptions of Portland and the memories associated with it. The poet's use of the word "often" suggests that he frequently reminisces about his past and finds solace in his memories.
As we read on, we encounter images of the sea, the woods, the river, the hills, and the church. These images are not just descriptions of physical spaces but also represent the poet's emotional landscape. The river, for instance, represents the passage of time, while the woods represent the innocence and purity of childhood.
The Power of Imagery: How Longfellow Brings His Memories to Life
One of the most striking features of "My Lost Youth" is Longfellow's use of vivid and evocative imagery. The poet uses imagery to transport the reader to Portland, to create a sense of nostalgia and longing, and to evoke the emotions associated with the memories.
Let's take a look at some examples of the imagery used in the poem.
The Sea
There are its tangled wrecks, its stranded
Boats, and the sea-fog, wet and dank,
The iron-bound coast, and the haughty
Headlands that boldly into the Atlantic thrust.
In these lines, Longfellow describes the sea and its surroundings in great detail. The sea is not just a body of water but a place where ships have been wrecked and where the fog is thick and oppressive. The use of the word "haughty" to describe the headlands suggests that they are proud and defiant, standing tall against the ocean's might.
The Woods
The leaves of the hemlock and cedar
Made a shadowy screen,
Deadened the sound of the spindle
And the wheeze of the old machine.
Here, Longfellow describes the woods as a place of refuge and tranquility. The trees provide a "shadowy screen," which offers protection from the outside world and creates a sense of peace. The use of the word "deadened" suggests that the woods are a place where the noise of the world is muted, allowing the poet to retreat into his thoughts.
The River
And the river, the
Merrimac, dark and deep,
Was tossing its billows up to the sky,
And the firs in the forests, solemn and dim,
In these lines, Longfellow describes the Merrimac River in a way that personifies it. The river is not just a body of water but a living entity that tosses its billows up to the sky. The use of the words "solemn and dim" to describe the firs in the forest creates a sense of mystery and intrigue, drawing the reader further into the poet's world.
The Church
And the old church
Stands, with the bell
Tower, into the yellow air;
And the mossy roofs and the
Here, Longfellow describes the church as a symbol of the past. The use of the word "old" suggests that the church has been standing for a long time and has seen many generations come and go. The image of the bell tower reaching into the "yellow air" creates a sense of height and grandeur, emphasizing the importance of the church in the poet's memories.
The Language of the Poem: A Closer Look
In addition to the powerful imagery, "My Lost Youth" is also notable for its language. Longfellow's use of language is precise and deliberate, and he makes use of a wide range of literary devices to create a sense of nostalgia and longing.
One of the most striking literary devices used in the poem is repetition. The poet repeats certain words and phrases throughout the poem, creating a sense of rhythm and emphasizing the importance of certain images and ideas.
For instance, the phrase "that dear old town" is repeated several times throughout the poem, emphasizing the poet's fondness for his hometown. Similarly, the repetition of the phrase "long, long ago" creates a sense of distance and nostalgia.
Another literary device used in the poem is alliteration. Longfellow makes use of repeated consonant sounds to create a sense of rhythm and to emphasize certain words and phrases.
For instance, in the lines,
And the musk of the seaweed,
The scent of the shore in the breeze,
the repeated "s" sounds create a sense of serenity and tranquility, emphasizing the peacefulness of the sea.
Conclusion: The Power of Art to Capture the Essence of Life
As I come to the end of this literary criticism and interpretation of "My Lost Youth," I am struck by the power of art to capture the essence of life. Through his poetry, Longfellow was able to immortalize his memories of Portland and to express his longing for the carefree days of his youth.
The poem is a testament to the power of nostalgia and the human desire to hold onto the past. It is a reminder that even as time passes, we can hold onto our memories and use them as a source of comfort and inspiration.
In the end, "My Lost Youth" is more than just a poem - it is a window into the soul of its author and a testament to the power of art to capture the essence of life.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
My Lost Youth: A Poetic Journey Through Time
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "My Lost Youth" is a poem that takes the reader on a journey through the poet's memories of his childhood in Portland, Maine. The poem is a nostalgic reflection on the beauty of youth and the longing to return to a simpler time. Longfellow's use of vivid imagery, metaphors, and allusions creates a powerful and emotional experience for the reader.
The poem is divided into three parts, each representing a different stage in the poet's life. The first part describes his childhood in Portland, where he spent his days exploring the natural beauty of the Maine coast. Longfellow's use of imagery in this section is particularly striking. He describes the "sea-washed, sunset gates" and the "purple mountains" that surrounded his childhood home. These images evoke a sense of wonder and awe, as if the poet is trying to capture the beauty of his surroundings in words.
The second part of the poem describes Longfellow's departure from Portland to attend college in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This section is filled with metaphors that convey the sense of loss and longing that the poet feels. He compares his departure to a "bird that has flown away" and describes his longing for his childhood home as a "sorrowful dream." The use of these metaphors creates a sense of sadness and melancholy that is palpable.
The final section of the poem is a reflection on the poet's life as an adult. Longfellow describes his travels to foreign lands and his experiences as a writer. He acknowledges that he has achieved success and fame, but he also recognizes that he has lost something along the way. He longs to return to his childhood home and to the simplicity of his youth. The final lines of the poem are particularly poignant: "A boy's will is the wind's will, / And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."
Longfellow's use of allusions in this poem is also noteworthy. He references classical literature and mythology, as well as contemporary events and figures. For example, he compares his childhood home to the "Isles of Greece" and references the Trojan War. These allusions serve to elevate the poem and give it a timeless quality.
Overall, "My Lost Youth" is a powerful and emotional poem that captures the beauty and longing of youth. Longfellow's use of vivid imagery, metaphors, and allusions creates a rich and complex experience for the reader. The poem is a testament to the power of memory and the enduring nature of the human spirit.
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