Poems that make you think of other things and vise versa.

[Nightshade]

I've been thinking about this recently, espeically in connection with certain folk songs and Wordsworth's Solitary Reaper. When I first read the poem in school it struck me , and stayed with me always. And every now and then I will hear folk song ( I am rather fond of ballads and folk music) and they will remind me of the poem.

Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland Lass!
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here, or gently pass!
Alone she cuts, and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain;
O listen! for the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.
No Nightingale did ever chaunt
So sweetly to reposing bands
Of Travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian Sands:
No sweeter voice was ever heard
In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.
Will no one tell me what she sings?
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:
Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of today?
Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
That has been, and may be again!
Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sung
As if her song could have no ending;
I saw her singing at her work,
And o'er the sickle bending;
I listen'd till I had my fill;
And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.

For instance yesterday I was thinking of Early one moring. Although of course that is English rather than Scottish. still it is melancholy and in some versions goes on forever.

Early one morning,
Just as the sun was rising,
I heard a maid sing,
In the valley below.

Oh, don't deceive me,
Oh, never leave me,
How could you use
A poor maiden so?

then there is always Danny boy and By Yon Bonnie Banks ( Loch Lomond)
oh and of course the Eriskay love lilt.

Bheir me o, horo van o
Bheir me o, horo van ee
Bheir me o, o horo ho
Sad am I, without thee.

So Are there poems that make you think of other things or other things that make you think of certain poems?

[Tournesol]

Yes, this happens to me all the time.

Perhaps one of my favourite poetic associations, is when I'm at the beach at night. When I walk on the sand, or just look out the window at the waves and the stars, I always, always think about Browning's 'Meeting at Night'.

I find this to be one of THE MOST romantic poems of all time. The anticipation, plus the relief and ultimate desire and joy of hte two lovers...he really catured it well.


The grey sea and the long black land;
And the yellow half-moon large and low;
And the startled little waves that leap
In fiery ringlets from their sleep,
As I gain the cove with pushing prow,
And quench its speed i' the slushy sand

Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach;
Three fields to cross till a farm appears;
A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch
And blue spurt of a lighted match,
And a voice less loud, thro' its joys and fears,
Than the two hearts beating each to each!

[Nightshade]

I love Warning - when I am old I shall wear purple. By Jenny Joseph. I know a couple of old people women who remind me of that poem