The Ballad-Singer by Thomas Hardy
The poem presents a speaker who seeks solace and distraction from heartache through the performance of a ballad-singer. The speaker is haunted by memories of a past love, yearning for a way to escape the pain associated with lost affection. The ballad-singer is called upon to evoke a lively tune that can drown out the sorrowful recollections of a relationship that once brought joy but has since turned into a source of anguish. In the first stanza, the speaker expresses a desire to forget the companionship experienced under the moonlight, a symbol of romantic intimacy. The second stanza deepens this longing, revealing a betrayal of trust, as the beloved had promised enduring love but ultimately left the speaker in uncertainty. The third stanza continues this theme of remembrance, with the speaker pleading for the ballad-singer to help erase the memories of the beloved's name, appearance, and emotional expressions. The overarching theme revolves around the struggle between memory and the desire for forgetfulness. The ballad-singer's role becomes crucial as a vessel for the speaker's emotional release, highlighting the power of music and poetry to provide temporary relief from personal suffering. The work encapsulates the universal experience of love and loss, illustrating how art can serve as a means of coping with heartache. The speaker's plea for distraction underscores the profound impact of love on the human psyche and the longing for healing through creative expression.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1917 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Ballad · 133 words
First lines
SING, Ballad-singer, raise a hearty tune; Make me forget that there was ever a one I walked with in the meek light of the moon When the day's work was done.
Rhyme, Ballad-rhymer, start a country song; Make me forget that she whom I loved well Swore she would love me dearly, love me long, Then-what I cannot tell!
Sing, Ballad-singer, from your little book; Make me forget those heart-breaks, achings, fears; Make me forget her name, her sweet sweet look- Make me forget her tears.
What this Textopian page supports
The Ballad-Singer is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thomas Hardy, 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: Thomas Hardy
- Date: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Ballad, Narrative Poetry, Pastoral
- Length: 133 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Ballad-Singer?
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- Where does Lyric Poetry first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work is structured as a poem that expresses personal emotions and feelings, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — The themes of love, loss, and nostalgia align with the Romantic movement's focus on emotion and individual experience.
- Ballad — The title and structure suggest a ballad form, which typically tells a story through song and emphasizes narrative elements.
- Narrative Poetry — The poem tells a story of heartache and longing, fitting the narrative poetry genre.
Tags
poetry · narrative · romance · tragedy · folk culture · music · love · loss · identity · social commentary · rural life · human emotion