What Will Your Verse Be?

Poetry is a composite art form that speaks to its reader’s, it is not only heard but is felt through the powerful emotion evoked from its speaker. Poetry is immensely complex, it is not meant to be read out loud but rather performed; poetry digs deep into ones soul and picks at the stitches of emotion. World renowned actor Robin Williams stated in the film Dead Poets Society, “We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. Poetry, beauty, romance and love, these are what we stay alive for. The powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?” Poetry is the very thing that keeps human beings going through both good and bad times, it is what lets them know that they are not alone; that there are others in the world who feel and think the same way they do.

In the famous poem “Childhood is the Kingdom Where Nobody Dies” by Edna St. Vincent Millay, everlasting childhood and the innocence of childhood is an evident theme portrayed throughout the poem. The poem begins with a metaphor describing childhood as a fantasy kingdom where there is no tragedy, Edna states “Childhood is not from birth to a certain age and at a certain age the child is grown, and puts away childish things. Childhood is the kingdom where nobody dies” (Millay 1). This line creates an extreme solemn tone in that the author describes the never-land of childhood as a safe place, a sheltered untroubled land. Although, there comes a point in time where one must put these childish fantasies aside and grow into adulthood, therefore ultimately preparing to face the astringent realities that are life. As long as one remains in this false reality and illusion of real life, they are nonaligned from all responsibility and pain that comes alone with adulthood. The poem then goes on to claim, “Nobody that matters, that is. Distant relatives of course die, whom one never has seen or has seen for an hour, and they gave one candy in a pink-and-green striped bag, or a jack-knife, and went away, and cannot really be said to have lived at all” (Millay 2). Here the author highlights that although others may die, as a child you believe the ones who are dearest and closest to your heart are safe from deaths hand, although people you have never known or hardly knew may pass away your loved ones will never disappear. This line creates the tone of true misplaced hope in that because someone is of importance to you does not rid them of their fate. Childhood is also described as having eternity to right your wrongs, that you always have time to say sorry. For example Millay states, “And if you have said, “For heaven’s sake, must you always be kissing a person?” Or, “I do wish to gracious you’d stop tapping on the window with your thimble!” Tomorrow, or even the day after tomorrow if you’re busy having fun, is plenty of time to say, “I’m sorry, mother.” (Millay 3).  This line portrays a sanguine tone in that childhood allows one to have faith in the idea of “forever”, that no matter the circumstance there is an infinite number of tomorrows, next week, or even next year to fix what you’ve done. Millay has successfully illustrated the theme of innocence and everlasting childhood through the use of tone.

In the poem “Playgrounds” by Laurence Alma-Tadema, childhood imagination and the loss of that imagination when entering adulthood is a prominent theme displayed throughout the poem. The author begins the poems by stating, “In summer I am very glad we children are so small, for we can see a thousand things that men can’t see at all” (Alma-Tadema 1). This line illustrates a relieved tone in that the child is obliged to be young and carefree; also being a child having the opportunity to see things differently than adults would due to of their lack of imagination. Alma-Tadema then goes on to say, “They don’t know much about the moss and all the stones they pass: they never lie and play among the forests in the grass: they walk about a long way off; and, when we’re at the sea, let father stoop as best as he can he can’t find things like me” (Alma-Tadema 2). Here the author portrays a mystical tone in that during childhood children are capable of expressing themselves through imagination in opposition to adults who do not. Clearly, the author has depicted the theme of childhood imagination and the loss of it in adulthood through tone.   

In the eminent song “Never Grow Up” by pop sensation Taylor Swift, the theme of everlasting childhood and the aspiration to remain a child is undoubtedly illustrated throughout the song. The song begins, “Your little hands wrapped around my finger and it’s so quiet in the world tonight. Your little eyelids flutter cause you’re dreaming so I tuck you in and turn on your favorite nightlight. To you everything’s funny you got nothing to regret, I’d give all I have honey if you could stay like that” (Swift 1). This line patently portrays an earnest tone in that she fiercely wishes for the nameless child to remain young and naïve for in childhood there is no regret or fear. Swift then goes on to state, “Oh darling don’t you ever grow up, don’t you ever grow up, just stay this little. Oh darling don’t you ever grow up, don’t you ever grow up it could stay this simple. I won’t let nobody hurt you, won’t let no one break your heart no one will desert you, just try to never grow up” (Swift 2). Taylor Swift distinctly portrays a tone of passion for she loves this child so deeply she does not want him or her to grow up facing the tedious reality of life. Swift then continues to discuss her experience with growing from childhood to adulthood, she sings “So here I am in my new apartment in a big city they just dropped me off. It’s so much colder than I thought it would be so I tuck myself in and turn my nightlight on” (Swift 3). Here she describes her transition from child to adult through the use of a somber tone, she is ultimately shell shocked by this transition. Incontrovertibly, Swift did a prodigious job elucidating everlasting childhood and her yearning to remain childlike through her use of tone.

Both poetry and music go hand in hand, poetry is music and music is poetry. Before a song is generated it is first poetry, and that poetry ultimately becomes lyrics. Poems “Childhood is the Kingdom Where Nobody Dies”, “Playground” and song “Never Grow Up” all have something in common which is their theme and tone. The two poems closely relate to the lyrics of Taylor Swifts song in that all revolve around the notion of childhood. For example “Childhood is the Kingdom Where Nobody Dies” centers on the conviction of everlasting childhood and innocence as well as “Never Grow Up”. Likewise the freedom to be carefree describes the poem “Playground” and relates to “Never Grow Up.” The tones of these pieces are also closely affiliated. For example all hold a grim view on adulthood and an enthusiastic perspective on childhood and the imagination that it possesses. Overall, each piece is intimately related on their basis of theme and tone.

Poetry exemplifies extreme emotion within both writers and readers, for a piece to be considered poetry it must first meet this qualification of emotion. Human beings need poetry and music to survive for it is how they find meaning in life, Anne Waldman once said “Poetry can refine our experience through expressive, heightened, rhythmic and shifting tonal structures of language. It can wake us up.” All in all, the theme and tone of art can expose the meaning and emotion behind an artist’s work and help illustrate their true purpose.      

Edna St. Vincent Millay, “Childhood is the Kingdom Where Nobody Dies," from Collected Poems. Copyright 1931, 1934, 1939, © 1958 by Edna St. Vincent Millay and Norma Millay Ellis. Reprinted with the permission of The Permissions Company, Inc., on behalf of Holly Peppe, Literary Executor, The Millay Society. www.millay.org.

Alma-Tadema, Laurence. "Childhood Is the Kingdom Where Nobody Dies." Poets.org. Web. 9 Dec. 2015. <https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/playgrounds>.

Swift, Taylor. "Never Grow Up." Play.Google.com. Web. 9 Dec. 2015. <https://play.google.com/music/preview/Tr7hgwxky3j6lkqb6t5xt53wq3a?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-lyrics>.