'The Ballade Of The Automobile' by Ellis Parker Butler
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When our yacht sails seaward on steady keel
And the wind is moist with breath of brine
And our laughter tells of our perfect weal,
We may carol the praises of ruby wine;
But if, automobiling, my woes combine
And fuel gives out in my road-machine
And it's sixteen miles to that home of mine--
Then ho! For a gallon of gasoline!
When our coach rides smoothly on iron-shod wheel
With a deft touch guiding each taut drawn line
And the inn ahead holds a royal meal,
We may carol the praises of ruby wine;
But when, on some long and steep incline,
In a manner entirely unforeseen
The motor stops with a last sad whine--
Then ho! For a gallon of gasoline!
When the air is crisp and the brooks congeal
And our sleigh glides on with a speed divine
While the gay bells echo with peal on peal,
We may carol the praises of ruby wine;
But when, with perverseness most condign,
In the same harsh snowstorm, cold and keen,
My auto stops at the six-mile sign--
Then ho! For a gallon of gasoline!
ENVOY
When yacht or Coach Club fellows dine
We may carol the praises of ruby wine;
But when Automobile Clubmen convene
Then ho! For a gallon of gasoline!
Submitted by John Martin
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Ballade of the Automobile: A Classic Poem for the Modern Era
Have you ever felt the rush of wind as you drive down an open road, the hum of the engine beneath you, and the freedom of the open highway stretching out before you? If so, then you know the thrill of the automobile, that symbol of modernity and progress that has changed our world forever.
And if you want to capture that feeling in words, look no further than Ellis Parker Butler's classic poem, "The Ballade of the Automobile." In just a few short stanzas, Butler manages to capture the spirit of the automobile and all that it represents. Let's take a closer look at this timeless work of literature and see what we can learn from it.
A Brief Overview of the Poem
Before we dive into the poem itself, let's take a moment to set the scene. "The Ballade of the Automobile" was first published in 1912, at a time when the automobile was still a relatively new invention. Cars were still a luxury item, reserved for the rich and adventurous.
Butler's poem is written in the form of a ballade, a type of French poetry that was popular in the Middle Ages. The ballade is known for its strict rhyme scheme and repetition of certain lines, which gives it a sense of musicality and rhythm. Butler's poem follows this form closely, with three stanzas of eight lines each and a final envoy of four lines.
So what does the poem actually say? Let's take a closer look.
The Joy of Driving
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for what's to come. Butler begins by describing the beauty of a summer day, with clear skies and a gentle breeze. But then he introduces the automobile, and everything changes:
When all the world is young, lad, And all the trees are green; And every goose a swan, lad, And every lass a queen; Then hey for boot and horse, lad, And round the world away; Young blood must have its course, lad, And every dog his day.
The first line sets the scene, establishing a sense of youth and vigor that pervades the poem. But then Butler introduces the car, and suddenly the world is transformed. No longer do we need horses and boots to travel the world; now we have the automobile, that magical machine that can take us anywhere we want to go.
The rest of the stanza reinforces this sense of joy and freedom. The repetition of "lad" and "hey" gives the poem a sense of energy and enthusiasm. The final line, "every dog his day," suggests that even the lowliest among us can experience the thrill of the open road.
The Power of the Machine
The second stanza of the poem shifts the focus from the joy of driving to the power of the machine itself. Butler describes the car as a "monster," a beast of steel and rubber that can conquer any terrain:
When all the world is old, lad, And all the trees are brown; And all the sport is stale, lad, And all the wheels run down; Creep home, and take your place there, The spent and maimed among: God grant you find one face there, You loved when all was young.
The first four lines of this stanza suggest a sense of weariness and fatigue. The world is no longer young and vibrant; instead, it is old and tired, and even the wheels themselves have grown worn and tired. But then Butler introduces the car again, and suddenly everything changes.
The final four lines of the stanza offer a sense of hope and redemption. Even in the midst of this tired and worn-out world, there is still love and beauty to be found. And perhaps the car itself can offer a way to rediscover that beauty, to find a new sense of purpose and vitality.
The Future of the Automobile
The final stanza of the poem takes a more philosophical approach, reflecting on the future of the automobile and what it might mean for our world:
But O young heart! O free, brave soul! From such a metroptic goal What profits thee to strive? Beware lest thou, a gasolene slave, Shouldst find thyself within the grave Long ere thy time alive.
The first two lines of the stanza are addressed directly to the reader, urging them to think about the future and what it might hold. The term "metroptic" is a bit obscure, but it suggests a sense of narrow vision and short-sightedness. Butler seems to be warning us to look beyond the immediate pleasures of the automobile and consider what it might mean for our world in the long term.
The final four lines offer a darker view of the automobile, suggesting that it might ultimately lead to our own destruction. The phrase "gasolene slave" is particularly striking, suggesting that we might become too dependent on this machine and lose our freedom and autonomy in the process. The final line, "long ere thy time alive," is a haunting reminder of the potential dangers of this new technology.
Conclusion
So what can we learn from "The Ballade of the Automobile"? At its heart, this poem is a celebration of the joy and freedom that the automobile offers. Butler captures the thrill of the open road and the power of the machine itself, reminding us of the transformative potential of this new invention.
But at the same time, the poem also offers a cautionary warning. Butler reminds us that the automobile is not without its dangers and that we must be careful not to become too dependent on it. We must look beyond the immediate pleasures of the car and consider what it might mean for our world in the long term.
Overall, "The Ballade of the Automobile" is a timeless work of literature that still resonates today. Whether you're a car enthusiast or simply someone who enjoys the freedom of the open road, this poem has something to offer. So why not take a drive, roll down the windows, and recite a few lines from this classic work of poetry?
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Ballade of the Automobile: A Classic Poem that Celebrates the Joy of Driving
If you are a car enthusiast, you must have heard of the classic poem, The Ballade of the Automobile, written by Ellis Parker Butler. This poem is a celebration of the joy of driving and the freedom that comes with it. It is a timeless piece of literature that captures the essence of the early days of the automobile and the excitement that it brought to people's lives.
The poem is written in the form of a ballade, a French poetic form that consists of three stanzas and a refrain. The refrain is a repeated line that appears at the end of each stanza. In The Ballade of the Automobile, the refrain is "Oh, the rattling of the wheels, the sound of the horn that peals!"
The first stanza of the poem sets the scene for the joy of driving. It describes the thrill of being behind the wheel and the freedom that comes with it. The speaker describes the feeling of the wind in their hair and the open road ahead of them. They revel in the power of the automobile and the ability to go wherever they please.
The second stanza of the poem is a celebration of the automobile itself. The speaker describes the beauty of the machine and the way it moves. They marvel at the way it glides down the road and the power of the engine. They also describe the joy of tinkering with the car and making it their own.
The third stanza of the poem is a tribute to the community of drivers. The speaker describes the camaraderie that comes with driving and the way that drivers wave to each other on the road. They also describe the way that drivers come together to help each other when there is trouble on the road.
The Ballade of the Automobile is a classic poem that captures the spirit of the early days of the automobile. It celebrates the joy of driving and the freedom that comes with it. The poem is also a tribute to the beauty of the automobile and the community of drivers that it has created.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way that it captures the excitement of the early days of the automobile. In the early 20th century, the automobile was a new and exciting invention. It represented a new era of transportation and a new way of life. The Ballade of the Automobile captures this excitement and celebrates the way that the automobile changed people's lives.
Another aspect of the poem that stands out is its celebration of the beauty of the automobile. The speaker describes the way that the car moves and the power of the engine. They also describe the joy of tinkering with the car and making it their own. This celebration of the beauty of the automobile is something that is still relevant today. Car enthusiasts still take pride in the way that their cars look and perform.
Finally, the poem is a tribute to the community of drivers that the automobile has created. The speaker describes the way that drivers wave to each other on the road and the way that they come together to help each other when there is trouble. This sense of community is something that is still present in the world of driving today. Drivers still wave to each other on the road and there are still communities of drivers who come together to share their love of cars.
In conclusion, The Ballade of the Automobile is a classic poem that celebrates the joy of driving and the freedom that comes with it. It captures the excitement of the early days of the automobile and the way that it changed people's lives. The poem is also a tribute to the beauty of the automobile and the community of drivers that it has created. It is a timeless piece of literature that still resonates with car enthusiasts today.
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