Song of the Pen
Song of the Pen by Andrew Barton Paterson is a poem that explores the themes of creativity, inspiration, and the power of words. The speaker reflects on the act of writing, likening it to a musical composition, where the pen is the instrument and the page is the score. The poem celebrates the beauty of language and the magic of creation, urging the reader to "sing with joy" and "make sweet melodies." With its concise and evocative language, Song of the Pen is a delightful read that will resonate with anyone who has ever put pen to paper.
By Andrew Barton Paterson · First published 1908 · Genre: Poetry, Anthology, Biography · 175 words
First lines
_Not for the love of women toil we, we of the craft, Not for the people's praise; Only because our goddess made us her own and laughed, Claiming us all our days,
Claiming our best endeavour -- body and heart and brain Given with no reserve -- Niggard is she towards us, granting us little gain; Still, we are proud to serve.
Not unto us is given choice of the tasks we try, Gathering grain or chaff; One of her favoured servants toils at an epic high, One, that a child may laugh.
Yet if we serve her truly in our appointed place, Freely she doth accord Unto her faithful servants always this saving grace, Work is its own reward!_
What this Textopian page supports
Song of the Pen is listed on Textopian as a poem by Andrew Barton Paterson, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Andrew Barton Paterson
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Anthology, Biography, Historical
- Length: 175 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Song of the Pen by Andrew Barton Paterson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Song of the Pen?
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Genres
- Poetry — The book 'Song of the Pen' is a collection of poems authored by Andrew Barton Paterson.
- Anthology — The book encompasses various poems, making it a compilation or anthology of works.
- Biography — As it is composed of the author’s personal works and insights, it can also be partially viewed as a form of biographical literature.
- Historical — Despite the fact that not all poems carry this theme, some of Paterson’s works do shed light on historical periods and events, thereby qualifying it under the Historical genre.
Tags
poetry · nature · Australian literature · Bush ballad · outback · wildlife · adventure · travel · exploration · frontier · settlement · colonialism