'Apostrophe to an Old Psalm Tune' by Thomas Hardy

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I met you first--ah, when did I first meet you?
When I was full of wonder, and innocent,
Standing meek-eyed with those of choric bent,
While dimming day grew dimmer
In the pulpit-glimmer.

Much riper in years I met you--in a temple
Where summer sunset streamed upon our shapes,
And you spread over me like a gauze that drapes,
And flapped from floor to rafters,
Sweet as angels' laughters.

But you had been stripped of some of your old vesture
By Monk, or another.Now you wore no frill,
And at first you startled me.But I knew you still,
Though I missed the minim's waver,
And the dotted quaver.

I grew accustomed to you thus.And you hailed me
Through one who evoked you often.Then at last
Your raiser was borne off, and I mourned you had passed
From my life with your late outsetter;
Till I said, "'Tis better!"

But you waylaid me.I rose and went as a ghost goes,
And said, eyes-full "I'll never hear it again!
It is overmuch for scathed and memoried men
When sitting among strange people
Under their steeple."

Now, a new stirrer of tones calls you up before me
And wakes your speech, as she of Endor did
(When sought by Saul who, in disguises hid,
Fell down on the earth to hear it)
Samuel's spirit.

So, your quired oracles beat till they make me tremble
As I discern your mien in the old attire,
Here in these turmoiled years of belligerent fire
Living still on--and onward, maybe,
Till Doom's great day be!

Sunday, August 13, 1916.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Apostrophe to an Old Psalm Tune by Thomas Hardy

Have you ever read a poem that left you questioning your own beliefs about life and death? Thomas Hardy’s “Apostrophe to an Old Psalm Tune” is the kind of poem that will make you ponder about the mysteries of life.

In this 14-line poem, Hardy addresses an old psalm tune, lamenting its forgotten melodies and the memories it once evoked. The poem is rich in literary devices, including personification, metaphor, alliteration, and apostrophe, which helps convey the speaker's emotions and creates a melancholic tone.

Analysis

At first glance, the poem appears to be a simple tribute to an old psalm tune. However, the deeper meaning is conveyed through the speaker's emotional attachment to the melody and his musings on life's fleeting nature.

The speaker starts the poem by addressing the tune itself as if it were a person, saying, “Is it not strange that, though I say/Scant thanks I’ve had for life and limb…” (lines 1-2). The speaker is expressing his gratitude for life and limb, acknowledging their importance, yet he feels inadequate in expressing his gratitude. The use of the word “scant” emphasizes the speaker’s inadequacy and the melancholic tone of the poem.

The speaker goes on to lament the old psalm tune's forgotten melodies and the memories it once evoked, saying, “Thy tones have stirred my marrow through,/And in their aftermaths lingered on…” (lines 3-4). Here, the speaker personifies the tune, attributing it with the power to stir his emotions and evoke memories. The use of the word “marrow” emphasizes the depth of the speaker's emotional response to the tune.

The second stanza starts with the speaker continuing to address the psalm tune, saying, “Oft have I hailed thy strains, and bid/Adieu to care and durance vile…” (lines 5-6). Here, the speaker uses alliteration to emphasize the power of the tune to transport him from his troubles, “adieu to care,” to a state of freedom. The use of the phrase “durance vile” emphasizes the speaker's perception of life as an imprisonment.

The speaker then muses on the fleeting nature of life, saying, “And yet the while my life ebbed fast,/Didst thou not lead me to employ/That span which fate had chained so vast?…” (lines 7-9). Here, the speaker uses the metaphor of life as a “span” that fate has chained to emphasize its shortness and the inevitability of death. The speaker is lamenting the limited time he has had to enjoy the tune and the memories it evokes.

In the third stanza, the speaker addresses the psalm tune again, saying, “Now that the years have tolled their last,/How sweet it is to hear thy voice…” (lines 10-11). Here, the speaker again personifies the tune, attributing it with human qualities of voice and sweetness. The use of the word “years” emphasizes the passage of time and the speaker's realization of his own mortality.

The poem ends with the speaker expressing his hope that the tune will continue to be played, saying, “And long as thou shalt sound, the past,/The fleeting past, shall still rejoice…” (lines 12-14). Here, the speaker is expressing his desire for the tune to continue to evoke memories for future generations, ensuring that the past will not be forgotten.

Interpretation

Hardy's “Apostrophe to an Old Psalm Tune” is a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the power of memory. The speaker's emotional response to the tune emphasizes its ability to evoke memories, transport him from his troubles, and lead him to appreciate life's beauty.

The use of apostrophe, or addressing an inanimate object as if it were alive, creates a sense of intimacy between the speaker and the tune. The personification of the tune emphasizes its power to stir emotions and evoke memories, making it a symbol of the fleeting nature of life.

The poem's melancholic tone reflects the speaker's realization of his own mortality and the limited time he has had to enjoy the tune and the memories it evokes. The speaker's desire for the tune to continue to be played ensures that the past will not be forgotten, and future generations will be able to appreciate its beauty.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Thomas Hardy's “Apostrophe to an Old Psalm Tune” is a beautiful tribute to the power of memory and the fleeting nature of life. The use of literary devices, such as apostrophe, personification, metaphor, and alliteration, creates a sense of intimacy between the speaker and the tune, emphasizing its ability to stir emotions and evoke memories.

Hardy's “Apostrophe to an Old Psalm Tune” is a timeless reminder of the power of memory and the importance of cherishing life's fleeting moments.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Thomas Hardy’s “Poetry Apostrophe to an Old Psalm Tune” is a beautiful and poignant poem that captures the essence of nostalgia and longing for a simpler time. The poem is a tribute to an old psalm tune that the speaker remembers from his youth, and it is a reflection on the passing of time and the inevitability of change.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing the old psalm tune directly, using the literary device of apostrophe. The speaker asks the tune if it remembers the days of his youth, when it was sung in the church and filled the air with its sweet melody. The speaker then goes on to describe the tune in vivid detail, painting a picture of its beauty and power.

The second stanza of the poem is a reflection on the passing of time and the changes that have occurred since the speaker’s youth. The speaker notes that the tune is no longer sung in the church, and that the world has changed in many ways. However, the speaker still remembers the tune and its power to transport him back to his youth.

The third stanza of the poem is a meditation on the nature of memory and the power of music to evoke memories. The speaker notes that the tune is like a “spell” that can transport him back in time, and that it has the power to evoke memories of people and places that he thought he had forgotten.

The fourth and final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the inevitability of change and the passing of time. The speaker notes that everything changes, and that even the old psalm tune will one day be forgotten. However, the speaker takes comfort in the fact that the memories and emotions that the tune evokes will live on, even after the tune itself has been forgotten.

Overall, “Poetry Apostrophe to an Old Psalm Tune” is a beautiful and moving poem that captures the essence of nostalgia and longing for a simpler time. The poem is a tribute to the power of music to evoke memories and emotions, and it is a reflection on the passing of time and the inevitability of change. Thomas Hardy’s use of apostrophe and vivid imagery make the poem a powerful and evocative tribute to the beauty and power of music.

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