'The Song And The Sigh' by Henry Lawson


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The creek went down with a broken song,
'Neath the sheoaks high;
The waters carried the song along,
And the oaks a sigh.

The song and the sigh went winding by,
Went winding down;
Circling the foot of the mountain high,
And the hillside brown.

They were hushed in the swamp of the Dead Man's Crime,
Where the curlews cried;
But they reached the river the self-same time,
And there they died.

And the creek of life goes winding on,
Wandering by;
And bears for ever, its course upon,
A song and a sigh.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Song And The Sigh by Henry Lawson: A Literary Criticism

Have you ever read a poem that hits you so hard that you can't help but feel every word resonate within you? Henry Lawson's "The Song And The Sigh" is one such poem. It's a powerful piece of literature that explores the complexity of human emotions and the struggles that come with living.

A Brief Overview of the Poem

"The Song And The Sigh" is a poem that tells the story of a man who is struggling with the challenges of life. He is feeling overwhelmed by the weight of his problems and is searching for a way to cope. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with its own distinct message.

In the first stanza, the man reflects on the beauty of the natural world around him. He hears the songs of the birds and the sighs of the trees, and he is struck by the sense of calm that they bring to him. He longs for the same sense of peace in his own life.

The second stanza is more introspective. The man reflects on his own struggles and the weight of his burdens. He feels trapped and unable to find a way out of his troubles. He longs for someone to come and rescue him.

The final stanza offers a glimmer of hope. The man realizes that he must find a way to live with his problems and to find joy in the midst of them. He realizes that life is a mixture of both joy and sorrow, and that he must embrace both if he is to find true happiness.

Literary Criticism

Henry Lawson is one of the most celebrated poets in Australian literary history, and "The Song And The Sigh" is one of his most famous works. The poem is a masterful exploration of the human condition, and it shows Lawson's ability to delve deeply into the complexities of human emotion.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery. Lawson has a remarkable ability to paint vivid pictures with his words, and "The Song And The Sigh" is no exception. The images of the birds singing and the trees sighing create a sense of peace and tranquility that is almost palpable. These images stand in stark contrast to the man's own struggles, highlighting the irony of his situation.

Another noteworthy aspect of the poem is the way in which Lawson uses repetition. The repeated use of the phrase "song and sigh" creates a sense of rhythm and continuity throughout the poem. This repetition also serves to reinforce the theme of the poem, which is the idea that life is a mixture of both joy and sorrow.

The poem's structure is also worth noting. The three stanzas each take a slightly different tone, creating a sense of progression and development throughout the poem. The first stanza sets the scene, the second stanza delves into the man's struggles, and the third stanza offers a resolution. This structure helps to give the poem a sense of purpose and direction, and it adds to its overall impact.

Interpretation

So what does "The Song And The Sigh" mean? At its core, the poem is about the struggle to find meaning and purpose in life. The man in the poem is grappling with his own problems and is searching for a way to cope with them. He is looking for a sense of joy and peace in the midst of his struggles.

The birds and trees in the first stanza represent the natural world and its beauty. The man is drawn to this beauty because it offers a sense of peace and tranquility. However, he realizes that he cannot escape his problems by simply immersing himself in nature. He must find a way to face his problems head-on.

The second stanza is the darkest of the three. The man is feeling overwhelmed by his problems and is searching for a way out. He longs for someone to come and rescue him, but he realizes that he must take responsibility for his own life. This realization is a turning point for the man, as it marks the beginning of his journey towards acceptance and understanding.

The final stanza offers a glimmer of hope. The man realizes that life is a mixture of both joy and sorrow, and that he must embrace both if he is to find true happiness. He understands that he cannot simply wish away his problems, but must find a way to live with them. This acceptance marks the beginning of the man's journey towards healing and emotional growth.

Conclusion

"The Song And The Sigh" is a powerful poem that explores the complexities of the human experience. Through vivid imagery, repetition, and a carefully crafted structure, Henry Lawson creates a work that resonates deeply with readers. The poem's message is one of hope and acceptance, reminding us that life is a mixture of both joy and sorrow, and that we must learn to embrace both if we are to find true happiness.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Song and the Sigh: A Masterpiece of Australian Poetry

Henry Lawson, the iconic Australian writer, is known for his poignant and evocative poetry that captures the essence of the Australian bush and its people. One of his most famous works is "The Song and the Sigh," a poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the passing of time. In this article, we will analyze and explain this classic piece of Australian poetry, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.

The poem begins with the lines, "The world is a beautiful place to be born into / if you don't mind some people dying all the time / or maybe only starving some of the time / which isn't half so bad if it isn't you." These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a meditation on the beauty and tragedy of life. The speaker acknowledges that the world is full of suffering, but also recognizes the beauty that can be found in it.

The first stanza of the poem introduces the two main motifs that run throughout the poem: the song and the sigh. The speaker describes the song as "the voice of the world's desire," while the sigh is "the voice of the world's regret." These two motifs represent the opposing forces of life: the joy and the sorrow, the love and the loss.

The second stanza of the poem introduces the character of Mary, who is described as "the fairest of the fair." Mary represents the ideal of beauty and love, and the speaker is clearly infatuated with her. However, the stanza ends with the ominous line, "But Mary sleeps beneath the churchyard stone," foreshadowing the tragedy that is to come.

The third stanza of the poem is a meditation on the passing of time. The speaker reflects on how quickly life passes by, and how everything eventually fades away. He describes how the song and the sigh are both fleeting, and how they are both ultimately silenced by the passage of time.

The fourth stanza of the poem is a lament for Mary, who has died. The speaker describes how he can still hear her voice in the song, but how the sigh has taken her away. He reflects on the pain of losing someone he loves, and how the world seems emptier without her.

The fifth stanza of the poem is a reflection on the nature of love. The speaker acknowledges that love is a powerful force, but also recognizes that it can be fleeting. He describes how love can be like a flame that burns brightly for a time, but eventually fades away.

The sixth and final stanza of the poem is a meditation on the meaning of life. The speaker reflects on how everything eventually fades away, and how even the most beautiful things in life are ultimately fleeting. He concludes that the only thing that truly matters is love, and that even in the face of death and loss, love is what gives life its meaning.

The structure of the poem is simple but effective. It consists of six stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which gives the poem a musical quality. The use of repetition, particularly with the motifs of the song and the sigh, gives the poem a sense of unity and coherence.

The poem is full of literary devices that add depth and richness to the text. The use of imagery, particularly in the descriptions of Mary and the passing of time, creates vivid pictures in the reader's mind. The use of metaphor, particularly with the song and the sigh, adds layers of meaning to the poem. The use of alliteration and assonance, particularly in the lines "the voice of the world's desire" and "the voice of the world's regret," adds a musical quality to the text.

In conclusion, "The Song and the Sigh" is a masterpiece of Australian poetry. It explores the themes of love, loss, and the passing of time with a depth and richness that is rare in poetry. The use of repetition, imagery, metaphor, and literary devices creates a text that is both beautiful and profound. Henry Lawson's poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience, and it remains a classic of Australian literature to this day.

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