'The Ballad Of The Harp-Weaver' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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"Son," said my mother,
When I was knee-high,
"you've need of clothes to cover you,
and not a rag have I.
"There's nothing in the house
To make a boy breeches,
Nor shears to cut a cloth with,
Nor thread to take stitches.
"There's nothing in the house
But a loaf-end of rye,
And a harp with a woman's head
Nobody will buy,"
And she began to cry.
That was in the early fall.
When came the late fall,
"Son," she said, "the sight of you
Makes your mother's blood crawl,—
"Little skinny shoulder-blades
Sticking through your clothes!
And where you'll get a jacket from
God above knows.
"It's lucky for me, lad,
Your daddy's in the ground,
And can't see the way I let
His son go around!"
And she made a queer sound.
That was in the late fall.
When the winter came,
I'd not a pair of breeches
Nor a shirt to my name.
I couldn't go to school,
Or out of doors to play.
And all the other little boys
Passed our way.
"Son," said my mother,
"Come, climb into my lap,
And I'll chafe your little bones
While you take a nap."
And, oh, but we were silly
For half and hour or more,
Me with my long legs,
Dragging on the floor,
A-rock-rock-rocking
To a mother-goose rhyme!
Oh, but we were happy
For half an hour's time!
But there was I, a great boy,
And what would folks say
To hear my mother singing me
To sleep all day,
In such a daft way?
Men say the winter
Was bad that year;
Fuel was scarce,
And food was dear.
A wind with a wolf's head
Howled about our door,
And we burned up the chairs
And sat upon the floor.
All that was left us
Was a chair we couldn't break,
And the harp with a woman's head
Nobody would take,
For song or pity's sake.
The night before Christmas
I cried with cold,
I cried myself to sleep
Like a two-year old.
And in the deep night
I felt my mother rise,
And stare down upon me
With love in her eyes.
I saw my mother sitting
On the one good chair,
A light falling on her
From I couldn't tell where.
Looking nineteen,
And not a day older,
And the harp with a woman's head
Leaned against her shoulder.
Her thin fingers, moving
In the thin, tall strings,
Were weav-weav-weaving
Wonderful things.
Many bright threads,
From where I couldn't see,
Were running through the harp-strings
Rapidly,
And gold threads whistling
Through my mother's hand.
I saw the web grow,
And the pattern expand.
She wove a child's jacket,
And when it was done
She laid it on the floor
And wove another one.
She wove a red cloak
So regal to see,
"She's made it for a king's son,"
I said, "and not for me."
But I knew it was for me.
She wove a pair of breeches
Quicker than that!
She wove a pair of boots
And a little cocked hat.
She wove a pair of mittens,
Shw wove a little blouse,
She wove all night
In the still, cold house.
She sang as she worked,
And the harp-strings spoke;
Her voice never faltered,
And the thread never broke,
And when I awoke,—
There sat my mother
With the harp against her shoulder,
Looking nineteeen,
And not a day older,
A smile about her lips,
And a light about her head,
And her hands in the harp-strings
Frozen dead.
And piled beside her
And toppling to the skies,
Were the clothes of a king's son,
Just my size.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Ballad Of The Harp-Weaver by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Are you ready to dive into one of the most heart-touching ballads of all times? I hope so! Because today we are going to explore Edna St. Vincent Millay's masterpiece, The Ballad Of The Harp-Weaver. This poem will leave you breathless, and maybe even in tears, as it tells the story of a desperate mother who will do anything to provide for her dying son. So, let's get started!
The Poem
Before we dive into the interpretation, let's take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the poem itself. The Ballad Of The Harp-Weaver is a twelve-stanza ballad, written in the traditional form of ABAB rhyme scheme. The poem is divided into three sections, each with four stanzas, and each section tells a different part of the story.
The ballad begins with the introduction of a harp-weaver, a mother who weaves day and night to provide for her son. The first section describes the harsh winter conditions, the mother's ailing son, and the weaver's determination to do whatever it takes to keep him warm and fed. The second section introduces the harp, a symbol of hope and comfort for the child, and the mother's plan to sell it to get the money she needs. The final section describes the mother's sacrifice, as she gives up the harp and her own voice to provide for her son.
The Interpretation
Now that we have a basic understanding of the poem's structure, let's dive into the interpretation. At its core, The Ballad Of The Harp-Weaver is a story of sacrifice, love, and desperation. It paints a vivid picture of a mother's love for her child, and the lengths she is willing to go to provide for him.
The first section sets the stage for the story, describing the harsh winter conditions and the weaver's ailing son. The mother is described as "weaving a garment of sorrow" and "weary, weary," highlighting her exhaustion and desperation. This section also introduces the theme of sacrifice, as the mother gives up her own comfort to provide for her son.
In the second section, we see the introduction of the harp, which becomes a symbol of hope and comfort for the child. The mother's plan to sell the harp is described in detail, highlighting the desperation and urgency of her situation. The harp itself is described as "the one thing left" that the mother has to offer, further emphasizing the sacrifices she is willing to make.
The final section of the poem is where the true sacrifice takes place. The mother gives up the harp, her only source of comfort and hope, and her own voice, to provide for her son. This sacrifice is described in vivid detail, as the mother "strikes a chord upon the harp" and "lays it where the cold blast sucks the heat." The description of the mother's sacrifice is powerful and moving, highlighting the depth of her love for her child.
Themes and Symbols
The Ballad Of The Harp-Weaver is rich with themes and symbols that add depth and meaning to the story. One of the most prominent themes is sacrifice, as the mother gives up everything she has to provide for her son. This theme is further emphasized by the symbol of the harp, which represents hope, comfort, and the mother's sacrifice.
Another important theme in the poem is the power of love. The mother's love for her son is what drives her to make such profound sacrifices, and it is this love that ultimately saves the child's life. Love is also reflected in the symbolism of the harp, which represents the mother's love for her child and her willingness to give up everything for him.
Finally, the poem touches on the themes of poverty, desperation, and the struggle to survive. The harsh winter conditions and the mother's desperation are vividly described, highlighting the struggle of those living in poverty. This theme is further emphasized by the mother's sacrifice, as she gives up everything she has to provide for her son.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Ballad Of The Harp-Weaver is a masterpiece of poetry that tells a powerful and moving story of sacrifice, love, and desperation. Through its vivid imagery and use of symbols, the poem captures the depth of a mother's love for her child and the lengths she is willing to go to provide for him. It is a timeless tale that resonates with readers today, as it did when it was first written over 100 years ago. If you haven't read this ballad yet, I highly recommend it. It will leave you breathless and in awe of the power of poetry to touch the heart and soul.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver: A Masterpiece of Emotion and Imagery
Edna St. Vincent Millay is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, and her works continue to inspire readers and writers alike. Among her many masterpieces, The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver stands out as a shining example of her talent for weaving together emotion and imagery in a way that captures the heart and mind of the reader.
At its core, The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver is a story of love and sacrifice. The poem tells the tale of a poor mother who weaves a harp for her son, so that he may play it and earn a living. The mother, who is already weak and ill, sacrifices her own life to complete the harp, dying just as her son returns home to find it waiting for him. The poem is a powerful testament to the strength of a mother's love, and the lengths to which she will go to provide for her child.
The poem is written in ballad form, with a simple and repetitive structure that echoes the traditional folk songs of Millay's youth. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, with four-line stanzas that alternate between iambic tetrameter and iambic trimeter. This structure gives the poem a musical quality, and reinforces the idea that it is a story meant to be sung or recited.
The imagery in The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver is rich and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the mother's struggle and sacrifice. Millay uses a variety of sensory details to bring the scene to life, from the "cold, bare feet" of the mother as she weaves, to the "thin, blue flame" of the candle that flickers beside her. The harp itself is described in loving detail, with its "strings of twisted gut" and "frame of polished wood." The harp becomes a symbol of the mother's love and sacrifice, and the reader can almost feel the weight of it in their hands as they read.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way Millay uses language to convey emotion. The mother's love for her son is palpable in every line, from the way she "sings as she weaves" to the way she "smiles as she sings." The reader can feel the mother's joy and pride as she works on the harp, and her pain and exhaustion as she nears the end of her life. The son's grief and despair are also conveyed with great skill, as he "falls to the floor" and "weeps like a child" upon discovering his mother's sacrifice. The language is simple and direct, but it packs a powerful emotional punch.
Another notable aspect of the poem is the way Millay plays with time. The poem begins with the mother weaving the harp, and then jumps forward to the moment of her death. The son's arrival is described in the past tense, as if it has already happened, even though it is happening in the present moment of the poem. This creates a sense of inevitability and tragedy, as if the mother's sacrifice was always meant to be.
The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver is a timeless masterpiece that speaks to the universal themes of love, sacrifice, and the bond between mother and child. Millay's skillful use of language and imagery creates a powerful emotional impact that lingers long after the poem is finished. It is a testament to the enduring power of poetry, and a reminder of the beauty and complexity of the human experience.
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