Poem Analysis - O Cupid Cupid Get Your Bow

A Pastoral Plea for Love

Henry Lawson's "O Cupid, Cupid; Get Your Bow!" is a charming and lighthearted poem expressing a speaker's infatuation with a "squatter's daughter." The poem's tone is playful and urgent, a blend of admiration and anxious anticipation. It paints a vivid picture of rural Australia and the speaker's desire for romantic connection. The mood remains consistently enthusiastic, driven by the speaker's growing feelings and fervent wish for Cupid's intervention.

The Australian Context: A Glimpse of Rural Life

Lawson, an Australian writer, often focused on the lives of ordinary people in the Australian outback. Knowing this context enriches the poem because the "squatter's daughter" wouldn't have been simply a young woman, but a person rooted in a specific socio-economic setting. The "squatter" owned a considerable plot of land, raising cattle or sheep. This image allows us to appreciate the poem as a depiction of the Australian rural landscape and, possibly, a comment on class and love in that setting, even if only subtly.

The Themes of Beauty, Desire, and Fate

One dominant theme is the celebration of beauty. The poem brims with descriptions of the woman's physical attractiveness: "Her eyes are kind; her lips are warm; / And like a flower her face is." Lawson employs similes to emphasize her loveliness, comparing her face to a flower and her form to that of a Grace, a reference to goddesses known for beauty and charm. The theme of desire is overt, with the speaker openly declaring, "O I'll be mad of love, I know." This immediate and intense attraction drives the poem's narrative. A further important theme is the reliance on fate, or perhaps luck, through Cupid's intervention. The speaker doesn’t plan to woo the woman himself but places all his hopes on Cupid's arrow finding its mark.

Symbolic Landscapes and the Power of Cupid

Several vivid images contribute to the poem's meaning. The stream and pool where "lilies gleam" create an idyllic, almost Edenic setting, symbolic of purity and natural beauty where this romantic encounter occurs. The "saddle" from which Cupid should shoot her down can be interpreted in several ways. It speaks to the active, outdoor life of the woman, and to her independence. However, it could also symbolize a barrier, something that Cupid needs to bypass to bring her to the speaker. The constant invocation of Cupid is itself a significant symbol. Cupid represents the whimsical, often uncontrollable nature of love, suggesting that the speaker believes love is something that happens to you, rather than something you actively pursue.

Final Thoughts: A Lighthearted Longing

In conclusion, "O Cupid, Cupid; Get Your Bow!" is a delightful expression of infatuation set against the backdrop of rural Australia. Through vivid imagery and a playful tone, the poem explores themes of beauty, desire, and fate. The speaker's complete reliance on Cupid underscores the often irrational and whimsical nature of love. Ultimately, the poem's charm lies in its simple, heartfelt expression of longing, making it a universally relatable exploration of the first stirrings of affection.