Poem Analysis - In The Harbour Possibilities

Initial Impression and Tone

In The Harbour: Possibilities by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow presents a reflective and somewhat nostalgic tone, contemplating the whereabouts of great poets and their influential works. The poem begins with a sense of longing and curiosity, questioning the absence of notable poets and their impactful poetry. There is a shift in mood towards the end, where the tone becomes hopeful and optimistic, suggesting the emergence of new poetic talent.

Themes of Absence and Hope

The poem explores several themes, with absence and hope being the most prominent. The initial stanzas highlight the absence of great poets and their influential works, using imagery of distant heights and uncharted lands to emphasize this void. The use of the word perhaps in the final stanza introduces a sense of hope, suggesting that new poetic talent may emerge from unexpected places. This theme is developed through the imagery of a dreamy boy, untaught in schools, who could become a master of the art.

Imagery and Symbolism

The poem is rich in vivid imagery and symbolism. The Olympian heights symbolize the elevated status of great poets, while the singing shafts and stately argosies of song represent their powerful and influential works. The rushing keels making music as they sail signifies the harmonious and impactful nature of their poetry. The dreamy boy, untaught in schools, symbolizes the potential for new poetic talent to emerge from unexpected places. The high seas of thought and lands not yet laid down in any chart represent the uncharted territories of poetic expression and the hope for new discoveries.

The Significance of the Poem

The poem's significance lies in its exploration of the absence of great poets and the hope for new poetic talent to emerge. It serves as a reminder of the enduring power of poetry and its ability to inspire and influence. The poem's reflective and hopeful tone, combined with its vivid imagery and symbolism, makes it a poignant reflection on the state of poetry and its potential for renewal. The poem invites readers to consider the possibility of new poetic voices emerging from unexpected places, offering a sense of hope and optimism for the future of poetry.