Directions

In his book How to Read a Poem and Fall in Love with Poetry, Edward Hirsch explains that historically poetry evolved alongside of art forms such as dance and music. “Poetry and music are sister arts,” according Hirsch, and therefore, “The poem appeals to the ear.” Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poem, “The Ballad of the Harp Weaver”, draws upon a long established tradition of folk ballads which describe the sacrifices, suffering, and joy that parents, and mothers in particular, have experienced throughout time.

After reading the poem, compose a journal entry in which you relate its imagery and themes to a song of your own choosing. The song can belong to any genre or historical time period. In addition to examining lyrical and thematic similarities between the song and the poem, also consider the ways that musically the song either resembles or differs from tone of “The Ballad of the Harp Weaver”.

Include hyperlinks to relevant texts, videos, or images in addition to your written text. Also consider embedding images or videos in your entry to make it more interactive.

Submission

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