How Shall he Sing who Hath no Song?
The story follows a young man named John who has lost his voice and must find it again in order to fulfill his destiny as a singer. Along the way, he encounters various characters who help him on his journey of self-discovery and personal growth. The book explores themes of identity, purpose, and the power of music to transform lives.
By George MacDonald · First published 1869 · Genre: Poetry, Inspirational, Religious · 403 words
First lines
How shall he sing who hath no song? / He laugh who hath no mirth? / Will cannot wake the sleeping song! / Yea, Love itself in vain may long / To sing with them that have a song, / Or, mirthless, laugh with Mirth! / He who would sing but hath no song / Must speak the right, denounce the wrong, / Must humbly front the indignant throng, / Must yield his back to Satire's thong, / Nor shield his face from liar's prong, / Must say and do and be the truth, / And fearless wait for what ensueth, / Wait, wait, with patience sweet and strong, / Until God's glory fill the earth; / Then shall he sing who had no song, / He laugh who had no mirth!
What this Textopian page supports
How Shall he Sing who Hath no Song? is listed on Textopian as a poem by George MacDonald, dated 1869 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: George MacDonald
- Date: 1869 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Inspirational, Religious, Philosophical, Allegory
- Length: 403 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for How Shall he Sing who Hath no Song? by George MacDonald
- 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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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Inspirational — Themes of hope, perseverance, and divine justice are prevalent, aiming to inspire and uplift the reader.
- Religious — References to God and divine glory suggest a religious or spiritual undertone.
- Philosophical — Explores existential themes such as truth, righteousness, and the human condition.
Tags
spirituality · faith · suffering · redemption · identity · self-discovery · hope · grief · love · sacrifice · soul · inner turmoil