Westphalian Song by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The work presents a lyrical exploration of love, loss, and the passage of time, framed within a folk song tradition. It begins with a speaker addressing a messenger who is to convey messages to a beloved. The speaker expresses a longing for connection, instructing the messenger to greet the beloved kindly and to provide updates on his well-being. As the song unfolds, the speaker's condition is revealed to be one of death, yet there is a juxtaposition of sorrow and hope. The beloved's potential grief is acknowledged, but the speaker reassures that he will return, suggesting a transcendence beyond death. This duality of existence—life and afterlife, joy and sorrow—permeates the work, reflecting on the nature of love that persists even in separation. The tone is both melancholic and uplifting, capturing the essence of folk traditions where personal emotions are intertwined with communal experiences. The use of simple yet poignant language enhances the emotional resonance, allowing the themes of longing and reassurance to emerge clearly. The song's structure, with its repetitive and rhythmic qualities, mirrors the oral traditions of storytelling, making it accessible and memorable. Overall, the piece serves as a meditation on the enduring power of love, the inevitability of loss, and the hope for reunion, encapsulated in a format that celebrates both individual sentiment and collective cultural heritage.

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge · First published 1798 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Ballad · 150 words

First lines

[The following is an almost literal translation of a very old and very / favourite song among the Westphalian Boors. The turn at the end is the same / with one of Mr. Dibdin's excellent songs, and the air to which it is sung / by the Boors is remarkably sweet and lively.]

When thou to my true-love com'st / Greet her from me kindly; / When she asks thee how I fare? / Say, folks in Heaven fare finely.

When she asks, "What! Is he sick? " / Say, dead! -- and when for sorrow / She begins to sob and cry, / Say, I come to-morrow.

• Open reader

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Genres

• Lyric Poetry — The work is structured as a song, emphasizing personal emotion and expression, typical of lyric poetry.
• Romanticism — The themes of love, loss, and nature reflect the characteristics of Romantic literature.
• Ballad — The narrative style and musical quality align with the ballad form, which often tells a story.
• Folklore — The reference to a traditional song among the Westphalian Boors suggests elements of folklore.

Tags

Westphalian · song · Coleridge · translation · Boors · lively · sweet · love · sorrow · death · farewell · kindness

What this Textopian page supports

Westphalian Song is listed on Textopian as a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, dated 1798 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Poem
• Author: Samuel Taylor Coleridge
• Date: 1798 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Ballad, Folklore, Elegy
• Length: 150 words
• Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs

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• Work identity for Westphalian Song by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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More by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

• Expostulation and Reply (1817)
• The Tables Turned (1798)
• Animal Tranquillity and Decay (1816)
• Goody Blake and Harry Gill (1798)
• The Last of the Flock (1815)
• Lines Left Upon a Seat in a Yew-Tree, which Stands Near the Lake of Estwaithe, on a Desolate Part of the Shore, Yet Commanding a Beautiful Prospect (1818)
• The Foster-Mother's Tale (1815)
• The Thorn (1798)
• All works by Samuel Taylor Coleridge