A Voice By The Cedar Tree

by Alfred Lord Tennyson — a poem card from Justes Mots

The speaker hears Maud singing a martial ballad, her beauty and spirited voice stirring him from languid indifference and inspiring patriotic fervor. From *Maud*, this portrait of female vitality awakening male purpose blends love, nationalism, and self-critique. Captures the galvanizing force of beauty and courage.

A voice by cedar tree
In the meadow under the Hall!
She is singing an air that is known to me,
A passionate ballad gallant and gay,
A martial song like a trumpet�s call!
Singing of men that in battle array
Ready in heart and ready in hand,
March with banner and bugle and fife…

Themes: love · new-baby · wedding · friendship