What is an ode?
A type of poem.
Ode to Odes: Celebrating the Poem that Celebrates
An ode is a type of poem that is characterized by its exalted and often celebratory tone. These poems praise their subjects with great enthusiasm, making use of vivid language and imagery to convey their reverence.
While odes have been around for centuries - think of the odes written by the ancient Greeks and Romans - they continue to be popular today. Many writers turn to the ode when they want to pay tribute to something they consider grand and wonderful. This may be a person, a place, a thing, an event, or even an abstract concept like love, beauty, or freedom.
One of the hallmarks of the ode is its often elaborate structure. Many odes have three parts: the strophe, the antistrophe, and the epode. These sections may be marked by different meters, with the strophe and antistrophe having the same structure while the epode takes on a different form. This complex structure is not always present in modern odes, but the joyful, celebratory tone remains a common thread.
Below are two examples of odes from literature that capture the joy and celebration that this poetic form is known for.
'Darkling I listen; and, for many a time
I have been half in love with easeful Death,
Call'd him soft names in many a mused rhyme,
To take into the air my quiet breath;
Now more than ever seems it rich to die,
To cease upon the midnight with no pain,
While thou art pouring forth thy soul abroad
In such an ecstasy!'
'Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard
Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on;
Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear'd,
Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone:
Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave
Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare;
Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss,
Though winning near the goal yet, do not grieve;
She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss,
For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!'