'Early In The Morning I Hear On Your Piano' by Robert Louis Stevenson
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
EARLY in the morning I hear on your piano
You (at least, I guess it's you) proceed to learn to play.
Mostly little minds should take and tackle their piano
While the birds are singing in the morning of the day.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Early In The Morning I Hear On Your Piano by Robert Louis Stevenson: A Masterpiece of Sensory Poetry
As I read Robert Louis Stevenson's poem "Early In The Morning I Hear On Your Piano," I am struck by its power to evoke a vivid sensory experience. The poem, written in 1878, speaks to the intimate connection between music and memory, between sound and emotion. Through rich imagery and delicate phrasing, Stevenson paints a portrait of a lover's morning ritual, capturing the atmosphere of a quiet moment before the day begins.
The Poem's Structure and Language
The poem is structured in six stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is consistent throughout the poem, with the second and fourth lines of each stanza rhyming. The poem's meter is regular, with four iambs per line. The use of consistent rhyme and meter creates a sense of rhythm that mirrors the music being played on the piano, adding to the sensory experience for the reader.
Stevenson's use of language is simple yet evocative. He employs a range of sensory images, from the sound of the piano to the scent of the roses in the garden outside. The language is infused with emotion, as the narrator experiences a range of feelings in response to the music.
The Sensory Experience
The poem begins with the narrator waking up and hearing the sound of the piano:
Early in the morning,
I hear on your piano
You (at least, I guess it's you)
Proceeding with scales.
The use of the word "proceeding" suggests a sense of purpose and methodical practice, and the narrator's assumption that it is their lover playing the piano adds a personal element to the scene.
As the poem progresses, Stevenson introduces a series of sensory experiences that enhance the reader's understanding of the scene. The second stanza describes the light filtering through the window, casting the room in an ethereal glow:
I presume you'll take a skylight,
Though the truth is I don't know;
If the morning were not cloudy,
You'd have sunlight, I suppose.
The use of the word "skylight" adds a sense of grandeur to the scene, while the uncertainty about the weather adds a touch of realism. The third stanza introduces the scent of the roses in the garden outside:
It is very pleasant
When I lay awake in bed
To hear a distant tinkle
Of a piano's notes instead,
And the creak of half-drawn curtains
And the stir of morning breeze,
And later, through the window,
The vision of pink trees;
And beyond them, the bright river,
And the peak of distant hills,
And the sunlight on the meadows,
And the drops on window sills.
The description of the "pink trees" and "bright river" creates a visual image of the outside world, while the mention of the "morning breeze" and "drops on window sills" adds a tactile element to the scene. The poem's final stanza returns to the sound of the piano, as the narrator reflects on the emotional impact of the music:
All the house is sleeping,
All the morning long,
Only I am up to listen
To the skylark's song.
Only you and I and heaven
Know this music's power,
In a single magic moment
We are one and flower.
The use of the words "magic" and "flower" suggest a sense of wonder and beauty, while the reference to the "skylark's song" adds a natural element to the scene.
Interpretation
"Early In The Morning I Hear On Your Piano" offers a poetic glimpse into an intimate moment between two lovers. The sensory experiences described in the poem create a vivid and immersive scene, inviting the reader to share in the narrator's experience.
At its core, the poem speaks to the power of music to evoke emotion and connect people. Through the use of sensory language, Stevenson conveys the emotional impact of the music on the narrator, as they experience a range of feelings from peacefulness to wonder.
In many ways, the poem can be seen as a celebration of the sensory experience and the power of art to evoke emotion. It reminds us that the beauty of the world is all around us, waiting to be appreciated if we take the time to listen, see, and feel.
Conclusion
"Early In The Morning I Hear On Your Piano" is a masterpiece of sensory poetry, demonstrating Stevenson's talent for evocative language and imagery. The poem creates a vivid and immersive scene, inviting the reader to share in the narrator's intimate moment. At its core, the poem speaks to the power of music to evoke emotion and connect people, reminding us of the beauty of the world around us.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Early in the Morning I Hear On Your Piano: A Masterpiece of Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson, the Scottish novelist, poet, and essayist, is known for his literary works that explore the human condition and the complexities of life. One of his most celebrated poems, "Early in the Morning I Hear On Your Piano," is a masterpiece that captures the essence of love, longing, and the beauty of music.
The poem is a lyrical expression of the speaker's emotions as he listens to the piano being played by his beloved in the early hours of the morning. The opening lines set the tone for the poem, "Early in the morning, / Early in the morning, / I hear on your piano / You (at least, I guess it's you)." The repetition of "early in the morning" creates a sense of intimacy and familiarity, as if the speaker is accustomed to hearing the piano being played at this time.
The use of the second person pronoun "you" adds a personal touch to the poem, as if the speaker is addressing his beloved directly. The uncertainty of whether it is his beloved playing the piano or not adds a sense of mystery and intrigue to the poem. The speaker's curiosity is evident in the lines, "You play so seldom, you so seldom play, / And when you have sighed, you sigh away."
The use of the word "seldom" emphasizes the rarity of the beloved's piano playing, making it all the more special and significant to the speaker. The repetition of "sigh" creates a melancholic tone, as if the speaker is aware of the fleeting nature of the moment and the transience of life.
The poem's central theme is the power of music to evoke emotions and memories. The speaker is transported to a different time and place as he listens to the piano being played. The lines, "And all my heart is listening too, / And all my soul is listening too," suggest that the speaker is completely absorbed in the music, as if it has the power to transcend time and space.
The use of the word "heart" and "soul" emphasizes the emotional and spiritual impact of the music on the speaker. The lines, "And all my heart is listening too, / And all my soul is listening too, / For songs that were sung by the stars above, / And songs that were sung by our first young love," suggest that the music is a reminder of a past love, perhaps a lost love, that the speaker is trying to recapture through the music.
The use of the phrase "songs that were sung by the stars above" creates a sense of romanticism and idealism, as if the speaker is longing for a love that is pure and eternal. The reference to "our first young love" suggests that the speaker is reminiscing about a time when love was innocent and unspoiled by the complexities of life.
The poem's structure is simple and repetitive, with each stanza consisting of four lines that follow a consistent rhyme scheme (ABCB). The use of repetition creates a sense of rhythm and musicality, as if the poem itself is a song. The repetition of "early in the morning" and "you play so seldom" creates a sense of familiarity and intimacy, as if the speaker is trying to capture a moment that is both fleeting and precious.
The poem's language is simple and straightforward, with no complex metaphors or imagery. The use of everyday language creates a sense of accessibility and universality, as if the poem is speaking to a wide audience. The poem's simplicity is its strength, as it captures the essence of love and music in a way that is both profound and relatable.
In conclusion, "Early in the Morning I Hear On Your Piano" is a masterpiece of Robert Louis Stevenson that captures the essence of love, longing, and the beauty of music. The poem's simple structure, repetitive language, and universal themes make it a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today. The poem is a testament to the power of music to evoke emotions and memories, and to the enduring nature of love that transcends time and space.
Editor Recommended Sites
Flutter Book: Learn flutter from the best learn flutter dev bookNew Friends App: A social network for finding new friends
Realtime Streaming: Real time streaming customer data and reasoning for identity resolution. Beam and kafak streaming pipeline tutorials
Prompt Catalog: Catalog of prompts for specific use cases. For chatGPT, bard / palm, llama alpaca models
Python 3 Book: Learn to program python3 from our top rated online book
Recommended Similar Analysis
Love in the Guise of Frindship by Robert Burns analysisSonnet 127: In the old age black was not counted fair by William Shakespeare analysis
And Death Shall Have No Dominion by Dylan Thomas analysis
Sonnet 129: Th' expense of spirit in a waste of shame by William Shakespeare analysis
since feeling is first... (VII) by e.e. cummings analysis
Poppies by Carl Sandburg analysis
Ballad of the Goodly Fere by Ezra Pound analysis
Cinderella by Anne Sexton analysis
A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift analysis
The Long Love That in My Thought Doth Harbour by Sir Thomas Wyatt analysis