The song that nerves a nation's heart is in itself a deed.
Interpretation
Artistic expression through music can evoke powerful emotions and actions within a society.
In this quote, Alfred Lord Tennyson suggests that music has the profound ability to resonate with the feelings and spirit of a nation. The 'song' represents not just melody, but a collective heartbeat that can motivate and inspire action, signifying that art, particularly music, is not merely for entertainment; it plays a crucial role in shaping the identity and actions of a community.
In practice
In a speech about community activism, one might say, 'As Tennyson noted, the song that nerves a nation's heart is in itself a deed, reminding us of the power of our collective voice.'
Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark; For though from out our bourne of Time and Place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crossed the bar.
How many a father have I seen, A sober man, among his boys, Whose youth was full of foolish noise.
O Love! what hours were thine and mine, In lands of palm and southern pine; In lands of palm, of orange-blossom, Of olive, aloe, and maize and vine!
Earth is dry to the centre,_x000D_ But spring, a new comer,_x000D_ A spring rich and strange,_x000D_ Shall make the winds blow_x000D_ Round and round,_x000D_ Thro' and thro',_x000D_ Here and there,_x000D_ Till the air_x000D_ And the ground_x000D_ Shall be fill'd with life anew.
O love, O fire! once he drew With one long kiss my whole soul through My lips, as sunlight drinketh dew.
But thy strong Hours indignant work’d their wills, And beat me down and marr’d and wasted me, And tho’ they could not end me, left me maim’d To dwell in presence of immortal youth, Immortal age beside immortal youth, And all I was, in ashes. - Tithonus
Every poem breaks a silence that had to be overcome.
A great many people seem to think writing poetry is worthwhile, even though it pays next to nothing and is not as widely read as it should be.
I think that one of the nice things about the Yellow Submarine movie is that it seems to be perennial. People enjoy watching from each generation. And it was like the Beatles themselves. You know the Beatles seem to find new audience each time another generation comes along.
That’s my idea of what a portrait ought to be, anonymous and documentary and a straightforward picture of mankind.
A writer wants something more than money for his work: he wants permanence.
Playwrights have texts, composers have scores, painters and sculptors have the residue of those activities, and dance is traditionally an ephemeral, effervescent, here-today-gone-tomorrow kind of thing.
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