Teach my Song by Marie Van Vorst
The speaker addresses a “Kind and Dear” person who is also “Brave and Strong,” praising a spirit that has endured life’s smiles and tears without losing its steady tenor. In contrast, the speaker has suffered “bitter wrong” from Fate and can scarcely see the beloved figure clearly through a metaphorical veil. Seeing Peace on the other person’s brow and believing that Life’s best gifts belong to them, the speaker asks for Faith, Cheer, Truth, and Beauty, hoping that this guidance will teach the speaker’s song.
By Marie Van Vorst · First published 1917 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry, Devotional Poetry · 120 words
First lines
Kind and Dear you are, and Brave and Strong. / Life has taught you worth of smile and tear; / Still your spirit's tenor flows along / Kind and Dear.
Turn to me, on whom for many a year / Fate has wrought its work of bitter wrong; / (Scarce my veilèd vision sees you clear! )
On your brow is Peace, to you belong / Life's best gifts, oh lend me Faith and Cheer! / Show me Truth and Beauty, teach my song, / Kind and Dear!
What this Textopian page supports
Teach my Song is listed on Textopian as a poem by Marie Van Vorst, dated 1917 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Marie Van Vorst
- Date: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry, Devotional Poetry, Inspirational Poetry, Victorian Poetry
- Length: 120 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Teach my Song by Marie Van Vorst
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work is a short, personal poetic address centered on emotion, musical language, and concentrated expression rather than narrative plot.
- Love Poetry — The speaker directly addresses a beloved or deeply cherished person, praising their kindness, courage, peace, and emotional support.
- Devotional Poetry — Its appeal for faith, cheer, truth, beauty, and spiritual consolation gives the poem a reverent, prayer-like quality.
- Inspirational Poetry — The poem emphasizes resilience after suffering and seeks hope, encouragement, and moral strength from the person addressed.
Tags
fiction · romance · literary fiction · social drama · family relationships · love · marriage · women's lives · society · music · artistic ambition · personal growth