'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 sleepLike 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: A Masterpiece of Poetic Imagery

The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver is a classic poem written by Edna St. Vincent Millay. This literary masterpiece has captivated readers for decades with its vivid imagery and emotional depth. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, imagery, and stylistic devices used by the author to craft this unforgettable poem.

Structure and Form

The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver is a ballad, a form of poetry that tells a story through simple, repetitive verse. This poem is divided into 10 stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme follows a pattern of ABCB, with the second and fourth lines rhyming. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, with four stressed syllables and four unstressed syllables per line. This gives the poem a musical quality, which is fitting given its subject matter.

Themes

The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver explores several themes that are still relevant today. One of the most prominent themes is sacrifice. The mother in the poem sacrifices her own comfort and well-being to provide for her son. She weaves a beautiful harp for him, even though she is poor and does not have the resources to do so. She also gives up her own warmth and shelter to give her son a comfortable bed to sleep in. Her love for her child is so strong that she will do anything to provide for him, even if it means sacrificing her own well-being.

Another theme that is explored in the poem is the power of art. The harp that the mother weaves for her son is not just a musical instrument, but a symbol of the power of art to transcend the difficulties of life. The harp becomes a source of comfort and solace for the boy, who is able to lose himself in the music even when he is cold and hungry. The mother's weavings and the boy's music represent the power of art to bring beauty and meaning to even the most difficult situations.

Imagery

One of the most striking things about The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver is its vivid imagery. Millay uses rich, sensory language to bring the characters and their surroundings to life. The opening stanza sets the scene:

*"Son," said my mother,

When I was knee-high,

"You've need of clothes to cover you,

And not a rag have I."*

The image of a young boy standing knee-high to his mother, cold and without clothes, immediately draws the reader into the story. The mother's poverty and inability to provide for her child are palpable.

Another powerful image in the poem is the weaving of the harp. Millay uses tactile language to describe the process, making it feel as though the reader is right there with the mother as she works:

*With fingers weary and worn,

And eyelids heavy and red,

A woman sat, in unwomanly rags,

Plying her needle and thread --*

The mother's worn fingers and heavy eyelids suggest that she has been working tirelessly on the harp. The image of the woman in "unwomanly rags" emphasizes her poverty and the difficulty of her task. The use of the word "plying" suggests a rhythmic, repetitive motion, emphasizing the musicality of the poem.

Stylistic Devices

In addition to its structure, form, themes, and imagery, The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver also employs several stylistic devices that enhance its impact. One of these is repetition. The repeated phrase "And pluck till time and times are done" creates a sense of inevitability and timelessness. The repetition of the phrase "And his father will sell the harp" emphasizes the mother's desperation and fear.

Another stylistic device used in the poem is alliteration. The repetition of consonant sounds creates a musical quality that is fitting for a ballad. Examples of alliteration in the poem include "fingers weary and worn," "woman sat, in unwomanly rags," and "harsh wind, and cold, gray sky."

The use of enjambment, where a line of poetry carries over to the next line without punctuation, creates a sense of momentum and continuity. For example, in the following lines:

*"And she made a bed for him to sleep,

Cold straw for his head,"*

The lack of punctuation between the two lines emphasizes the harshness of the boy's sleeping arrangements and the mother's inability to provide for him.

Conclusion

The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver is a masterful example of poetic storytelling. Millay's use of structure, form, themes, imagery, and stylistic devices all work together to create a vivid and emotional portrait of a mother's sacrifice for her child. The poem's themes of sacrifice and the power of art are still relevant today, making this classic poem a timeless masterpiece.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver: A Masterpiece of Poetry

Edna St. Vincent Millay's "The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. This masterpiece of poetry is a moving and powerful work that tells the story of a mother's love for her child and the sacrifices she makes to provide for him. The poem is a ballad, a form of poetry that tells a story in a simple and direct way, often with a refrain or repeated line. In this article, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of "The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver" and why it remains a beloved work of literature.

Themes

At its core, "The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver" is a poem about love and sacrifice. The mother in the poem is willing to do whatever it takes to provide for her child, even if it means giving up her own life. This theme of selflessness is a powerful one that resonates with readers of all ages and backgrounds. The poem also touches on the themes of poverty, hardship, and the struggle to survive. The mother and child in the poem are poor and have to work hard to make ends meet. This struggle is something that many people can relate to, and it adds to the emotional impact of the poem.

Structure

"The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver" is written in the form of a ballad, which is a traditional form of poetry that has been used for centuries. The ballad is a narrative poem that tells a story, often with a repeated refrain or line. In this poem, the refrain is "And all the time, O the harp-weaver, / Was crooning, crooning." This line is repeated throughout the poem, and it serves to emphasize the mother's love for her child and her dedication to her work as a harp-weaver.

The poem is also structured in quatrains, which are stanzas of four lines each. Each quatrain tells a part of the story, and the poem as a whole is divided into six quatrains. This structure gives the poem a sense of order and makes it easy to follow the narrative.

Language

One of the most striking things about "The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver" is its use of language. Millay's language is simple and direct, but it is also rich and evocative. She uses vivid imagery to bring the story to life and to create a sense of atmosphere. For example, in the first stanza, she writes:

"Will you walk into my parlor?" said the spider to the fly; "'Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy. The way into my parlor is up a winding stair, And I have many curious things to show when you are there."

This imagery is both beautiful and ominous, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem.

Millay also uses repetition to great effect in the poem. The repeated refrain of "crooning, crooning" emphasizes the mother's love for her child and her dedication to her work. The repetition of the phrase "my son" also serves to emphasize the mother's love for her child and her willingness to sacrifice everything for him.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver" is a masterpiece of poetry that has stood the test of time. Its themes of love and sacrifice, poverty and hardship, and the struggle to survive are timeless and universal. The poem's structure and language are simple and direct, but they are also rich and evocative. Millay's use of repetition and vivid imagery creates a sense of atmosphere and emotion that is both powerful and moving. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to touch our hearts and souls, and it will continue to be read and loved for generations to come.

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