Songs of the Springtides and Birthday Ode Taken from The Collected Poetical Works of Algernon Charles Swinburne—Vol. III

"Songs of the Springtides and Birthday Ode" by Algernon Charles Swinburne is a poetic compilation from the early 1900s that deeply examines nature, affection, and what it means to be alive. The collected poems use Swinburne's elegant and musical way with words to think about life and how short human moments are when compared to the massive and ever-changing world of nature. "Songs of the Springtides" uses bright pictures to paint a scene of people and the sea while honoring the energy of springtime as a symbol of new beginnings and inventive ideas. The "Birthday Ode," a tribute to Victor Hugo's milestone, celebrates how potent art can be and how much great books can impact people. The collection celebrates the wide and wonderful natural world, and it also digs into profound philosophical questions such as affection, independence, and what makes us who we are.