Gaspar by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Editor's note

Gaspar begins with a formal greeting — "Hail," a phrase reserved for royalty and special occasions — aimed at a baby resting in a feeding trough. The contrast is striking and intentional: the elegance of the greeting clashes with the starkness of the environment. Longfellow immediately conveys that this child's true identity is separate from his circumstances.

Editor's note

Gaspar presents his main argument: Jesus goes beyond all the pairs of opposites that shape human life. Life and Death, Joy and Woe represent the extremes of human experience, and the poem positions the infant above all of these. The exclamation point adds a sense of wonder that disrupts the formal tone.

Editor's note

Here, Gaspar transitions from admiration to prophecy. He examines the infant's palm — a "cross upon the line of life" is a term in palmistry that indicates future struggles — and foresees a life filled with toil and conflict. The term "cross" also has a clear Christian connotation: the symbol of the Crucifixion is already etched into the child's hand from birth.

Editor's note

The prophecy ends on a somber note. The phrase "region with peril rife" points to the real dangers faced during Jesus's time on earth and the spiritual realm of sin and death that he will confront. "In darkness shalt thou go" resonates with Old Testament prophetic language and hints at the Passion to come. The exclamation point here conveys a sense of solemn truth rather than triumph.