To a Young Girl Singing (Music)
The poem explores the relationship between music and nature, using a young girl's singing as a metaphor for the harmony that exists between the natural world and human creativity. The speaker describes the girl's voice as a gentle breeze that stirs the leaves of trees, bringing life to the landscape. The poem suggests that music has the power to awaken the beauty of the natural world, and that it is an integral part of the cycle of life.
By Henry Van Dyke · First published 1905 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Philosophical · 247 words
First lines
Oh, what do you know of the song, my dear, / And how have you made it your own?
You have caught the turn of the melody clear, / And you give it again with a golden tone, / Till the wonder-word and the wedded note / Are flowing out of your beautiful throat / With a liquid charm for every ear: / And they talk of your art, -- but for you alone / The song is a thing, unheard, unknown; / You only have learned it by rote.
But when you have lived for awhile, my dear, / I think you will learn it anew!
What this Textopian page supports
To a Young Girl Singing (Music) is listed on Textopian as a poem by Henry Van Dyke, dated 1905 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Henry Van Dyke
- Date: 1905 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Philosophical, Inspirational
- Length: 247 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for To a Young Girl Singing (Music) by Henry Van Dyke
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- The Child In The Garden Sonnets by Henry Van Dyke
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- The Singing Girl by Joyce Kilmer
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, typical of lyric poetry.
- Philosophical — The poem explores themes of personal growth and understanding, reflecting on the deeper meaning of art and experience.
- Inspirational — The poem encourages personal development and deeper emotional connection with art, aiming to inspire the reader.
Tags
Poetry · Children's Literature · Nursery Rhyme · Music · Literary Fiction · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Victorian Era · Whimsy · Imagination · Fantasy · Romance