24 A Ballad to Consider
A Ballad to Consider:
“I have a passion for ballad. . . . They are the gypsy children of song, born under green hedgerows in the leafy lanes and bypaths of literature,—in the genial Summertime.”
For the poem click here
Through the Lane it Lay by Emily Dickinson
Through lane it lay—thro' bramble—
Through clearing and thro' wood—
Banditti often passed us
Upon the lonely road.
The wolf came peering curious—
The owl looked puzzled down—
The serpent's satin figure
Gild stealthily along—
The tempests touched our garments—
The lightning's poniards gleamed—
Fierce from the Crag above us
The hungry Vulture screamed—
The satyrs fingers beckoned—
The valley murmured "Come"—
These were the mates—
This was the road
Those children fluttered home.
Reflection
A narrative - suitable to be sung, using slant rhyme. I love pitting the sound road with wood. Simple silhouettes sung in simplicity - the voice shifts from first person collective (look at the “us” repeated throughout) to an omnipresent narrator. Fascinating. Unhinging - really. Why does Dickinson make such a shift? And what with the fluttering? The children morph into baby birds returning to their nest as they slowly make their way along a perilous road. I like how the intensity of this poem increases - a clearing with brambles - a quiet owl - merely puzzled - a curious wolf and then the hungry screeching Vulture with a capital "V"! The intensity is also pushed by this poet with the move from the slant to the full rhymes of “gleamed” and “screamed.” I love it!!! I take the journey into these woods - The road is lonely - and I feel small. There are robbers, and an owl, and a wolf. There is a snake with satin skin slithering stealthily. There is rain, and lightning, and thunder. And a satyr. Even the valley is personified, almost as a tempter whispering ”Come” I find it fascinating that the “V” is capitalized in Vulture and not with valley. That hungry Vulture clearly is the climax of this piece - that notion - coupled with the term “home” at the end - gives a little light to this otherwise dark journey. With this story, which no doubt allegorically represents our journey through life, Dickinson suggests that -though the times be tough and the “mates” that join us may be rough - this passage is something that we pass through - and that ultimately, we will alight safely - home.
Questions
How many lines are in this poem?
Do you see any repeating words or phrases?
What imagery stands out to you?
Does the writer employ figurative language? If so, explain.
What is your interpretation of this poem?
How do the words make you feel?
Does this work inspire you in any way?