The Arrow and the Song

BY HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

I shot an arrow into the air,

It fell to earth, I knew not where;

For, so swiftly it flew, the sight

Could not follow it in its flight.

I breathed a song into the air,

It fell to earth, I knew not where;

For who has sight so keen and strong,

That it can follow the flight of song?

Long, long afterward, in an oak

I found the arrow, still unbroke;

And the song, from beginning to end,

I found again in the heart of a friend.

Picture reference:

oak tree

Word Meanings:

•      swiftly (adv): quickly
•      keen (adj): sharp

Summary:

    The poet (narrator) once long back shot an arrow into the air. The arrow went fast and he was not able to follow its path. He didn't know where the arrow had reached. At another time, he sang a beautiful song. Even the keenest person cannot follow the path of a song and like the arrow it reached an unknown destination.

    As time passed he poet grew older and one day the poet was surprised to see the arrow he shot years back in an oak tree pierced and unbroken. Then he heard his friend singing the same song that he had sung years ago.

Analysis:

   

    The arrow and the song are two objects antonym of one other. We can consider the arrow as something that causes destruction, and song as a creation or an art that heals. The arrow is used to hurt others and induce pain in them. The song is for soothing pain and easing out the minds of worried people. 

    Another interpretation is that the poet had used in different occasions harsh words soothing words  to a friend. Like the arrow and the song these words made a permanent scar or mark. The words that used to hurt made a gap between the friends and in the other case made the two friends to make a better bonding.