"The Song of the Night" by Marie de France
This poem is a fine example of lyric poetry from the Middle Ages, specifically a chanson or "song" in Old French:
Translation:
*The night is coming, the day is gone,*
*The birds are silent, the wind has flown.*
*The flowers are closed, the leaves are still,*
*All nature sleeps, and all is still.*
*The moon is shining, the stars are bright,*
*The world is hushed, and all is right.*
*The night is calm, the air is sweet,*
*And I am here, at your dear feet.*
*I sing to you, my love, my dear,*
*And all my heart, you hold so near.*
*The night is long, but I am here,*
*And all my love, you hold so dear.*
Characteristics of Lyric Poetry in this Example:
* Focus on Emotion: The poem expresses the speaker's feelings of love and longing.
* Musicality: The use of rhyme and rhythm creates a song-like quality.
* Personal Voice: The poem is written in the first person, giving a sense of intimacy and immediacy.
* Focus on Nature: The natural world is used to create a mood and to symbolize the speaker's feelings.
* Conciseness: The poem is relatively short and focused, expressing its core message in a few stanzas.
Significance:
This poem, like many medieval lyric poems, demonstrates the importance of love and devotion in the culture of the time. It also showcases the beauty and artistry of medieval poets.
This is just one example, and there are many other beautiful lyric poems from the Middle Ages. You can find more online or in anthologies of medieval literature.