Song of the Chattahoochee poem?

Question

I have to write a opinion paper on Song of the Chattahoochee by Sidney Lanier, but I can't even figure out what it is about. Can someone break it down for me? Here is a website where you can read the poem. http://ngeorgia.com/poetry/songofthechattahoochee.html

Answer 1

Nathaniel!

I like how I was looking for help, and then I find you. Haha..

I haven't even started on this, and its 5:09 Monday morning..

Gah = //

Answer 2

hi nathan,
I guess you know this river running down south to the gulf of Mexico marking boundary of Georgia/Alabama.
It is personified here. Consider these lines for instance:

And oh, not the valleys of Hall
Avail: I am fain for to water the plain.
Downward the voices of Duty call-
Downward, to toil and be mixed with the main

Certainly, there is resistance about the toil and impending mixture. The meaning rests on the river metaphor. It is more simply a river in the literal sense.

Answer 3

I had the impression that the hills of Habersham is a place of repose, where imagination run's rampant, the valley of hall is the pathway back down to the plains of reality and work. The author is descending back down into work through the valley, but the hills of habersham keep calling him to stay and enjoy the wonders of imagination and day dream. On the way down the valley is full of beckonings to asend back into the hills for restful imagination, but he knows he must return to whatever labor awaits him on the plain. You can play with themes such as imagination\reality, dreaming vs. planning vs. action, sleep\wakefulness, life\death, rest\work. Those are a few of my impressions.