Lyric

a poem, usually short, giving expression (in tuneful form) to the personal feeling of the poet. Technically speaking, the lyric is a poem that can be set to music; but, while all songs are lyrics, many of our most beautiful lyric poems do not possess that melodious arrangement of vowel and consonant sounds requisite if the lyrics are to be sung. Lyric poetry is distinctively the poetry of emotion. Dramatic poetry deals directly with action and character, as entirely outside of and apart from the poet. Epic poetry deals with a series of actions set forth by the poet, but still apart from his personal feeling. Such forms of poetry are objective. Lyric poetry is subjective. Through it, as a medium, the poet expresses the noblest thought and deepest feeling. We expect and find in lyric poetry rhythm, grace, and suggestive and beautiful imagery. Its aim is to awaken in the hearer the emotion felt by the poet. There are a great variety of lyrics. Hymns, songs, elegies, odes, and sonnets are the more important classes of lyrics; but many lyrics cannot be classified. It would seem that the variety can be limited only by the variety of the poet's moods and experiences. Burns, Shelley, Tennyson, Dobson, Swinburne, Longfellow, Lowell, and Poe may be mentioned as a few among the famous writers of lyric poetry.