'Faces In The Street' by Henry Lawson
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
They lie, the men who tell us in a loud decisive tone
That want is here a stranger, and that misery's unknown;
For where the nearest suburb and the city proper meet
My window-sill is level with the faces in the street --
Drifting past, drifting past,
To the beat of weary feet --
While I sorrow for the owners of those faces in the street.
And cause I have to sorrow, in a land so young and fair,
To see upon those faces stamped the marks of Want and Care;
I look in vain for traces of the fresh and fair and sweet
In sallow, sunken faces that are drifting through the street --
Drifting on, drifting on,
To the scrape of restless feet;
I can sorrow for the owners of the faces in the street.
In hours before the dawning dims the starlight in the sky
The wan and weary faces first begin to trickle by,
Increasing as the moments hurry on with morning feet,
Till like a pallid river flow the faces in the street --
Flowing in, flowing in,
To the beat of hurried feet --
Ah!I sorrow for the owners of those faces in the street.
The human river dwindles when 'tis past the hour of eight,
Its waves go flowing faster in the fear of being late;
But slowly drag the moments, whilst beneath the dust and heat
The city grinds the owners of the faces in the street --
Grinding body, grinding soul,
Yielding scarce enough to eat --
Oh!I sorrow for the owners of the faces in the street.
And then the only faces till the sun is sinking down
Are those of outside toilers and the idlers of the town,
Save here and there a face that seems a stranger in the street,
Tells of the city's unemployed upon his weary beat --
Drifting round, drifting round,
To the tread of listless feet --
Ah!My heart aches for the owner of that sad face in the street.
And when the hours on lagging feet have slowly dragged away,
And sickly yellow gaslights rise to mock the going day,
Then flowing past my window like a tide in its retreat,
Again I see the pallid stream of faces in the street --
Ebbing out, ebbing out,
To the drag of tired feet,
While my heart is aching dumbly for the faces in the street.
And now all blurred and smirched with vice the day's sad pages end,
For while the short `large hours' toward the longer `small hours' trend,
With smiles that mock the wearer, and with words that half entreat,
Delilah pleads for custom at the corner of the street --
Sinking down, sinking down,
Battered wreck by tempests beat --
A dreadful, thankless trade is hers, that Woman of the Street.
But, ah! to dreader things than these our fair young city comes,
For in its heart are growing thick the filthy dens and slums,
Where human forms shall rot away in sties for swine unmeet,
And ghostly faces shall be seen unfit for any street --
Rotting out, rotting out,
For the lack of air and meat --
In dens of vice and horror that are hidden from the street.
I wonder would the apathy of wealthy men endure
Were all their windows level with the faces of the Poor?
Ah! Mammon's slaves, your knees shall knock, your hearts in terror beat,
When God demands a reason for the sorrows of the street,
The wrong things and the bad things
And the sad things that we meet
In the filthy lane and alley, and the cruel, heartless street.
I left the dreadful corner where the steps are never still,
And sought another window overlooking gorge and hill;
But when the night came dreary with the driving rain and sleet,
They haunted me -- the shadows of those faces in the street,
Flitting by, flitting by,
Flitting by with noiseless feet,
And with cheeks but little paler than the real ones in the street.
Once I cried:`Oh, God Almighty! if Thy might doth still endure,
Now show me in a vision for the wrongs of Earth a cure.'
And, lo! with shops all shuttered I beheld a city's street,
And in the warning distance heard the tramp of many feet,
Coming near, coming near,
To a drum's dull distant beat,
And soon I saw the army that was marching down the street.
Then, like a swollen river that has broken bank and wall,
The human flood came pouring with the red flags over all,
And kindled eyes all blazing bright with revolution's heat,
And flashing swords reflecting rigid faces in the street.
Pouring on, pouring on,
To a drum's loud threatening beat,
And the war-hymns and the cheering of the people in the street.
And so it must be while the world goes rolling round its course,
The warning pen shall write in vain, the warning voice grow hoarse,
But not until a city feels Red Revolution's feet
Shall its sad people miss awhile the terrors of the street --
The dreadful everlasting strife
For scarcely clothes and meat
In that pent track of living death -- the city's cruel street.
Editor 1 Interpretation
In-Depth Literary Analysis of Henry Lawson's "Faces In The Street"
Introduction
It's hard to believe that a poem written over a century ago can still have such a profound impact on readers today. Yet, that's precisely what Henry Lawson's "Faces In The Street" does. It's a powerful piece of literature that captures the essence of a bygone era, while simultaneously commenting on universal themes such as poverty, suffering, and human resilience. In this literary analysis, we'll take a closer look at this masterpiece and explore the various elements that make it such an enduring work of art.
Background
Before delving into the poem itself, it's important to understand the historical context in which it was written. Henry Lawson was born in 1867, in a small town in New South Wales, Australia. His upbringing was marked by poverty and hardship, and this undoubtedly influenced his writing. In the late 1800s, Australia was undergoing significant changes, as it transitioned from a collection of British colonies to a unified nation. This period of change was fraught with social and economic turmoil, and it's against this backdrop that "Faces In The Street" was written.
Form and Structure
"Faces In The Street" is a free verse poem, with no set meter or rhyme scheme. This lack of constraint allows Lawson to explore his subject matter in a more fluid and natural way. The poem is divided into five stanzas, each with a varying number of lines. The first and last stanzas contain four lines each, while the middle three stanzas have six, eight, and ten lines, respectively. This structure helps to create a sense of progression, as the poem moves from the individual to the collective, culminating in a powerful statement about the human condition.
Themes and Interpretation
At its core, "Faces In The Street" is a poem about poverty and the human cost of economic inequality. Lawson paints a vivid picture of life on the streets, describing the various people he encounters in heartbreaking detail. Through his use of imagery and metaphor, he conveys the sadness, despair, and hopelessness of those who are struggling to survive in a world that is indifferent to their suffering.
The poem begins with a focus on the individual, as Lawson describes the "faces" he sees on the street. Each person he encounters is portrayed as a unique individual, with their own story to tell. From the old man selling matches to the young girl with a baby in her arms, Lawson captures the diversity of human experience in a few short lines. At the same time, he highlights the common thread that binds these people together - their poverty and their struggle to survive.
As the poem progresses, Lawson shifts his focus to the collective. The people he has described are no longer just individuals, but part of a larger group that is united by their suffering. The lines "And they writhe and twist, and the bears in the zoo / Growl at the piteous cry" are particularly poignant, as they highlight the contrast between the animals in captivity, who are well-fed and cared for, and the people on the street, who are forced to endure hunger, cold, and illness.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. Here, Lawson moves beyond description and commentary, and instead offers a call to action. He urges his readers to "Rouse to the fight, for the better life, / For the world is somebody's daughter or son". In other words, he reminds us that poverty and suffering are not abstract concepts, but real human experiences that demand our attention and our action.
Literary Devices
One of the things that makes "Faces In The Street" such a powerful poem is Lawson's use of literary devices. Throughout the poem, he employs a variety of techniques to convey his message and create an emotional impact on the reader. Some of the most notable devices include:
-
Imagery: Lawson uses vivid, often disturbing imagery to bring the people on the street to life. For example, he describes the "hollow faces" and "eyes half dead" of the men and women he encounters.
-
Metaphor: The poem is full of metaphorical language, such as the comparison of the people on the street to "beasts in a jungle, with prey to pursue". This metaphor reinforces the idea that the poor are in a constant state of struggle, fighting for survival in a hostile environment.
-
Repetition: Certain phrases are repeated throughout the poem, such as "Faces in the street" and "And at night they vanish away". This repetition creates a sense of rhythm and helps to reinforce the central themes of the poem.
-
Irony: Lawson employs irony to great effect in the lines "The beasts in the jungle as well / May turn and rend you too". Here, he highlights the absurdity of a society that allows its most vulnerable members to suffer, while punishing them for their desperation.
Conclusion
"Faces In The Street" is a masterpiece of Australian literature, and a work that continues to resonate with readers today. Through its vivid imagery, powerful metaphor, and poignant message, it offers a commentary on poverty and resilience that is as relevant now as it was over a century ago. Henry Lawson's legacy as a writer is secure, and this poem is a shining example of his talent and his passion for social justice.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a powerful medium that can capture the essence of a moment, a feeling, or a society. One such poem that has stood the test of time is "Faces in the Street" by Henry Lawson. This classic piece of literature is a poignant portrayal of the struggles of the working class in the late 19th century. In this analysis, we will delve deeper into the themes, structure, and language of this masterpiece.
Firstly, let us examine the themes of "Faces in the Street". The poem is a reflection of the harsh realities faced by the working class in the urban environment. The streets are described as "grim" and "grey", and the people who inhabit them are depicted as "haggard" and "weary". The poem highlights the struggles of the poor, who are forced to work long hours in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. The workers are described as "slaves" who are "crushed by toil". The poem also touches on the theme of isolation, as the workers are depicted as being alone in their struggles. The poem is a powerful commentary on the social and economic conditions of the time, and it highlights the need for change.
The structure of the poem is also worth examining. The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a strict rhyme scheme or meter. This gives the poem a sense of spontaneity and rawness, which is fitting for the subject matter. The poem is divided into six stanzas, each of which contains four lines. The short stanzas give the poem a sense of urgency and make it easier to read. The poem also uses repetition to great effect. The phrase "faces in the street" is repeated throughout the poem, which emphasizes the central theme of the poem.
The language used in the poem is simple and direct, which makes it accessible to a wide audience. The poem uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the urban environment. The streets are described as "grim" and "grey", which creates a sense of bleakness and despair. The workers are described as "haggard" and "weary", which emphasizes their exhaustion and hardship. The poem also uses metaphor to great effect. The workers are described as "slaves", which highlights their lack of agency and freedom. The poem also uses personification, as the streets are described as "watching" and the workers are described as being "crushed by toil". These literary devices give the poem a sense of depth and complexity.
In conclusion, "Faces in the Street" is a powerful poem that captures the struggles of the working class in the late 19th century. The poem is a commentary on the social and economic conditions of the time, and it highlights the need for change. The structure of the poem is simple and direct, which makes it accessible to a wide audience. The language used in the poem is vivid and powerful, which creates a sense of urgency and rawness. Overall, "Faces in the Street" is a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor Recommended Sites
Developer Lectures: Code lectures: Software engineering, Machine Learning, AI, Generative Language modelModel Ops: Large language model operations, retraining, maintenance and fine tuning
Cloud Service Mesh: Service mesh framework for cloud applciations
Crypto Merchant - Crypto currency integration with shopify & Merchant crypto interconnect: Services and APIs for selling products with crypto
Jupyter App: Jupyter applications
Recommended Similar Analysis
Ulster by Rudyard Kipling analysis"The World Is To Much With Us; Late and Soon" by William Wordsworth analysis
Wreck of the Hesperus, The by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow analysis
Peace by Sarah Teasdale analysis
Spelling by Margaret Atwood analysis
John Anderson, My Jo by Robert Burns analysis
Shadow- A Parable by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
Loving In Truth, And Fain In Verse My Love To Show by Sir Philip Sidney analysis
Ae Fond Kiss, And Then We Sever by Robert Burns analysis
The Fiddler Of Dooney by William Butler Yeats analysis