Poems & Ballads (First Series)

"Poems & Ballads (First Series)" by Algernon Charles Swinburne is a compilation of late 19th-century poetry that emphasizes strong feelings, how long things last, and what is beautiful. Swinburne uses music-like language and deep feelings to express these ideas in his poems. This collection has different types of poems, focusing on unique thoughts and dramatic stories that question the hard connections among love, life, and dying. The book starts with a note where Swinburne shares what he thinks about others commenting on his work. He thinks about the negative things people said earlier about his work and the mix of truth and imagining in making the poems. He then thinks about what his work means over time, showing he wants to share real feelings and create pretty, song-like poetry. The poems go on to talk about life, dying, a want for love, and the importance of people's experiences, influencing the serious ideas that fill the collection.