'The Cry Of The Children' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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Do ye hear the children weeping, O my brothers,
Ere the sorrow comes with years?
They are leaning their young heads against their mothers,
And that cannot stop their tears.
The young lambs are bleating in the meadows,
The young birds are chirping in the nest,
The young fawns are playing with the shadows,
The young flowers are blowing toward the west—
But the young, young children, O my brothers,
They are weeping bitterly!
They are weeping in the playtime of the others,
In the country of the free.
Do you question the young children in their sorrow,
Why their tears are falling so?
The old man may weep for his tomorrow,
Which is lost in Long Ago;
The old tree is leafless in the forest,
The old year is ending in the frost,
The old wound, if stricken, is the sorest,
The old hope is hardest to be lost:
But the young, young children, O my brothers,
Do you ask them why they stand
Weeping sore before the bosoms of their mothers,
In our happy Fatherland?
They look up with their pale and sunken faces,
And their looks are sad to see,
For the man's hoary anguish draws and presses
Down the cheeks of infancy;
"Your old earth," they say, "is very dreary;
Our young feet," they say, "are very weak!
Few paces have we taken, yet are weary—
Our grave-rest is very far to seek.
Ask the aged why they weep, and not the children,
For the outside earth is cold,
And we young ones stand without, in our bewildering,
And the graves are for the old."
"True," say the children, "it may happen
That we die before our time.
Little Alice died last year—her grave is shapen
Like a snowball, in the rime.
We looked into the pit prepared to take her:
Was no room for any work in the close clay!
From the sleep wherein she lieth none will wake her,
Crying 'Get up, little Alice! it is day.'
If you listen by that grave, in sun and shower,
With your ear down, little Alice never cries;
Could we see her face, be sure we should not know her,
For the smile has time for growing in her eyes:
And merry go her moments, lulled and stilled in
The shroud by the kirk-chime.
It is good when it happens," say the children,
"That we die before our time."
Alas, alas, the children! They are seeking
Death in life, as best to have;
They are binding up their hearts away from breaking,
With a cerement from the grave.
Go out, children, from the mine and from the city,
Sing out, children, as the little thrushes do;
Pluck your handfuls of the meadow-cowslips pretty,
Laugh aloud, to feel your fingers let them through!
But they answer, "Are your cowslips of the meadows
Like our weeds anear the mine?
Leave us quiet in the dark of the coal-shadows,
From your pleasures fair and fine!
"For oh," say the children, "we are weary,
And we cannot run or leap;
If we cared for any meadows, it were merely
To drop down in them and sleep.
Our knees tremble sorely in the stooping,
We fall upon our faces, trying to go;
And, underneath our heavy eyelids drooping,
The reddest flower would look as pale as snow.
For, all day, we drag our burden tiring
Through the coal-dark, underground;
Or, all day, we drive the wheels of iron
In the factories, round and round.
"For all day the wheels are droning, turning;
Their wind comes in our faces,—
Till our hearts turn, our heads with pulses burning,
And the walls turn in their places:
Turns the sky in the high window blank and reeling,
Turns the long light that drops adown the wall,
Turn the black flies that crawl along the ceiling,—
All are turning, all the day, and we with all.
And all day, the iron wheels are droning,
And sometimes we could pray,
'O ye wheels,' (breaking out in a mad moaning)
'Stop! be silent for today!' "
Ay, be silent! Let them hear each other breathing
For a moment, mouth to mouth!
Let them touch each other's hands, in a fresh wreathing
Of their tender human youth!
Let them feel that this cold metallic motion
Is not all the life God fashions or reveals:
Let them prove their living souls against the notion
That they live in you, or under you, O wheels!
Still, all day, the iron wheels go onward,
Grinding life down from its mark;
And the children's souls, which God is calling sunward,
Spin on blindly in the dark.
Now tell the poor young children, O my brothers,
To look up to Him and pray;
So the blessed One, who blesseth all the others,
Will bless them another day.
They answer, "Who is God that He should hear us,
While the rushing of the iron wheels is stirred?
When we sob aloud, the human creatures near us
Pass by, hearing not, or answer not a word.
And we hear not (for the wheels in their resounding)
Strangers speaking at the door:
Is it likely God, with angels singing round Him,
Hears our weeping any more?
"Two words, indeed, of praying we remember,
And at midnight's hour of harm,
'Our Father,' looking upward in the chamber,
We say softly for a charm.
We know no other words except 'Our Father,'
And we think that, in some pause of angels' song,
God may pluck them with the silence sweet to gather,
And hold both within His right hand which is strong.
'Our Father!' If He heard us, He would surely
(For they call Him good and mild)
Answer, smiling down the steep world very purely,
'Come and rest with me, my child.'
"But, no!" say the children, weeping faster,
"He is speechless as a stone:
And they tell us, of His image is the master
Who commands us to work on.
Go to!" say the children,—"up in heaven,
Dark, wheel-like, turning clouds are all we find.
Do not mock us; grief has made us unbelieving—
We look up for God, but tears have made us blind."
Do you hear the children weeping and disproving,
O my brothers, what ye preach?
For God's possible is taught by His world's loving,
And the children doubt of each.
And well may the children weep before you!
They are weary ere they run;
They have never seen the sunshine, nor the glory
Which is brighter than the sun.
They know the grief of man, without its wisdom;
They sink in man's despair, without its calm,—
Are slaves, without the liberty in Christdom,—
Are martyrs, by the pang without the palm,—
Are worn as if with age, yet unretrievingly
The harvest of its memories cannot reap,—
Are orphans of the earthly love and heavenly.
Let them weep! let them weep!
They look up with their pale and sunken faces,
And their look is dread to see,
For they mind you of their angels in high places,
With eyes turned on Deity;—
"How long," they say, "how long, O cruel nation,
Will you stand, to move the world, on a child's heart,—
Stifle down with a mailed heel its palpitation,
And tread onward to your throne amid the mart?
Our blood splashes upward, O gold-heaper,
And its purple shows your path!
But the child's sob in the silence curses deeper
Than the strong man in his wrath."
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Cry Of The Children: A Heart-wrenching Poem of Innocence Lost
As I read Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "The Cry Of The Children," I can feel my heart breaking. The poem is a powerful indictment of the exploitation of children in the factories and mines of Victorian England. Browning masterfully captures the pain, fear, and hopelessness of these innocent victims of industrialization.
The Historical Context
Before we dive into the poem itself, let's take a moment to understand the historical context in which it was written. The late 18th and early 19th centuries saw a rapid growth of industrialization in England. Factories and mines sprang up all over the country, employing thousands of people, including children as young as five years old.
The working conditions were appalling, with long hours, low pay, and dangerous machinery. Children were treated as expendable labor, forced to work in cramped, poorly ventilated spaces, often for 12 or more hours a day. Many suffered from injuries caused by the machinery, while others developed respiratory problems from the dust and fumes. Some even died from overwork, exhaustion, and disease.
The Poem
Now, let's turn our attention to the poem itself. "The Cry Of The Children" is written in the form of a dramatic monologue, with a child speaker addressing an adult audience. The poem's opening lines immediately set the tone and establish the theme:
"Do ye hear the children weeping, O my brothers,
Ere the sorrow comes with years?
They are leaning their young heads against their mothers,
And that cannot stop their tears."
The speaker is asking the adults if they can hear the children weeping, and if they understand the impact that the harsh conditions of their work will have on their lives. The image of the children leaning against their mothers, crying, is a powerful one, evoking a sense of helplessness and despair.
As the poem progresses, the speaker describes in vivid detail the terrible conditions in which the children are forced to work:
"They look up with their pale and sunken faces,
And their looks are sad to see,
For the man's grief abhorrent, draws and presses
Down the cheeks of infancy."
The children's faces are described as pale and sunken, a result of their long hours of work and lack of sunlight. Their grief is not just a response to physical pain, but also to the psychological trauma of being forced to work in such conditions.
The poem's climax comes in the sixth stanza, where the speaker pleads with the adults to listen to the cry of the children and take action:
"Have ye seen the factory chimney sweepers,
With their death-blisters on their cheeks?
Have ye marked the marble pallor of the leechers,
And the coal-dust on their locks and cheeks?"
The speaker is drawing attention to the visible signs of disease and neglect on the children's bodies. The "death-blisters" on the chimney sweepers' faces, the "marble pallor" of the leechers, and the "coal-dust" on their locks and cheeks are all symbolic of the toll that their work is taking on their health and wellbeing.
In the final stanza, the speaker poses a rhetorical question:
"Do ye hear the children weeping and disproving,
O my brothers, what ye preach?
For God's possible is taught by His world's loving,
And the children doubt of each."
The speaker is challenging the adults to live up to their own ideals of justice and compassion. The "children doubt of each" is a powerful image, suggesting that the children have lost faith in the adults' ability to protect them and are looking to themselves and each other for support.
Interpretation
"The Cry Of The Children" is a deeply political poem, calling attention to the suffering of vulnerable children and challenging the adults to take action. At the same time, however, it is also a deeply emotional poem, evoking a sense of empathy and compassion for the children and their plight.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the use of the child speaker. By giving voice to the children themselves, Browning is able to humanize them and make their suffering feel more immediate and real. The child's innocence and vulnerability are emphasized, making the adults' neglect and exploitation all the more horrific.
Another important aspect of the poem is the use of imagery. Browning's descriptions of the children's physical appearance are vivid and haunting, emphasizing the toll that their work is taking on their bodies. At the same time, however, the use of religious imagery (such as the reference to "God's possible") suggests that the children's suffering is part of a larger moral and spiritual crisis.
Finally, it is worth noting the poem's formal qualities. The use of rhyme and meter give the poem a musical quality, which contrasts with the harsh realities it describes. The repetition of certain phrases (such as "Do ye hear the children weeping") serves to emphasize the poem's central message and give it a sense of urgency.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Cry Of The Children" is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the heart of the human condition. By giving voice to the children themselves, Browning is able to evoke a sense of empathy and compassion for the victims of industrialization. At the same time, however, she is also challenging the adults to take responsibility for their own actions and work towards a more just and compassionate society. This is a timeless message that still resonates today, making "The Cry Of The Children" a true classic of English literature.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Cry of the Children: A Heart-Wrenching Poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning was a renowned poet of the Victorian era, known for her powerful and emotive works that often tackled social issues of the time. One of her most famous poems, The Cry of the Children, is a heart-wrenching piece that sheds light on the plight of child laborers in the 19th century. In this analysis, we will delve deep into the themes, imagery, and literary devices used in the poem to understand its significance and impact.
The poem is structured in three stanzas, each consisting of fourteen lines. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with the speaker addressing the reader directly and asking them to listen to the cries of the children. The second stanza describes the harsh working conditions of the children, while the third stanza is a plea for action to be taken to end this injustice.
The poem's title, The Cry of the Children, is significant as it immediately draws attention to the voices of the oppressed. The use of the word "cry" suggests a desperate plea for help, and the fact that it is the children who are crying adds to the emotional impact of the poem. The speaker's use of the imperative "Listen!" in the first line of the poem further emphasizes the urgency of the situation and demands the reader's attention.
The first stanza is particularly powerful as it sets the scene for the rest of the poem. The speaker describes the children's cries as "a voice of lamentation" and "a cry as of despair." These phrases evoke a sense of hopelessness and despair, highlighting the children's suffering. The use of the word "lamentation" also suggests mourning, emphasizing the tragedy of the situation.
The second stanza delves deeper into the children's working conditions, describing them as "pale and small" and "weary." The use of the word "small" emphasizes the vulnerability of the children, while "weary" suggests exhaustion and fatigue. The speaker also describes the children as "laden with the spoils of the mine," highlighting the dangerous and labor-intensive work they are forced to do. The phrase "spoils of the mine" also suggests that the children are being exploited for their labor, with little regard for their safety or well-being.
The third stanza is a plea for action to be taken to end child labor. The speaker asks, "Do ye hear the children weeping, O my brothers?" This line is particularly powerful as it suggests that the speaker is not alone in their concern for the children. The use of the word "brothers" suggests a sense of community and solidarity, emphasizing the need for collective action. The speaker also asks, "How long?" suggesting that this injustice has been going on for too long and needs to be addressed urgently.
The poem's use of imagery is also significant in conveying its message. The phrase "spoils of the mine" in the second stanza is a powerful image that highlights the dangerous and exploitative nature of child labor. The image of the children "pale and small" and "weary" also evokes a sense of vulnerability and helplessness. The use of the word "weeping" in the third stanza is another powerful image that emphasizes the emotional impact of the situation.
The poem's use of literary devices is also noteworthy. The repetition of the phrase "Do ye hear?" in the third stanza emphasizes the urgency of the situation and demands the reader's attention. The use of the imperative "Listen!" in the first stanza and the question "Do ye hear?" in the third stanza also engage the reader directly, making them feel a sense of responsibility for the children's plight.
The poem's use of rhyme and meter is also significant. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF. This gives the poem a musical quality, making it easier to read and remember. The use of rhyme also emphasizes certain words and phrases, such as "mine" and "pine" in the second stanza, highlighting the dangerous and oppressive nature of the children's work.
In conclusion, The Cry of the Children is a powerful and emotive poem that sheds light on the plight of child laborers in the 19th century. The poem's use of imagery, literary devices, and rhyme and meter all contribute to its impact and significance. The poem's message is clear: the cries of the children must be heard, and action must be taken to end this injustice. Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poem remains a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up for the oppressed and fighting for justice.
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