Poem by Bryanna T. Perkins — A lyric poem about music as a friend and healer.
Music is the ocean
That pulls me to the shore.
Music is the rhythm
That moves me to the core.
Music is the therapy
I need when I feel blue.
Music lifts my spirits
To make sure I pull through.
The times when I’m most cheerful,
It’s clear, music was there.
Music is the needed friend
When no one seems to care.
Key facts, theme, tone, and form explained simply.
Poetic techniques used in the poem, with examples from the text.
| Device | What It Means | Example from the Poem |
|---|---|---|
| Metaphor | Saying one thing IS another (without ‘like’ or ‘as’) | “Music is the ocean” — music is compared directly to the ocean “Music is the therapy” — music is called therapy “Music is the needed friend” — music is called a friend |
| Anaphora | Repeating the same word or phrase at the start of several lines | “Music is the…” is repeated at the start of many lines, giving the poem a chanting, musical feel |
| Personification | Giving human qualities or actions to a non-human thing | “Music lifts my spirits” — music cannot literally lift anything, but it is given the human action of lifting; “Music was there” |
| Imagery | Words that create a picture or feeling in the mind | “pulls me to the shore” — you can picture waves pulling; “moves me to the core” — you feel a deep emotional movement |
| Rhyme Scheme | A regular pattern of rhyming words at the end of lines | ABAB: shore/core, blue/through, there/care — the rhymes give the poem a song-like quality |
| Idiom | A phrase whose meaning is different from its literal words | “feel blue” = feel sad; “pull through” = succeed despite difficulty |
Important words from the poem explained in simple English.
Practise at home to remember the poem better.
1. What does the poet compare music to in Stanza 1? How does this comparison help you understand the poem?
In Stanza 1, the poet compares music to an ocean — “Music is the ocean that pulls me to the shore.” This comparison helps us understand how vast, deep, and powerful music is. Just as the ocean draws waves endlessly towards the shore, music pulls the listener in with an irresistible force. The ocean never stops moving, and music never stops comforting those who need it. This metaphor sets the tone for the whole poem: music is not just a sound; it is a great force of nature that surrounds and carries us.
“Pull through” means to survive a difficult time — to get through sadness, pain, or hardship and come out the other side. Music helps the poet pull through by being present in every difficult moment. When she feels sad or “blue,” she does not have to face her feelings alone — music becomes her companion, lifting her spirit and reminding her that the hard time will pass. Music asks no questions, makes no judgements, and never leaves — making it the perfect companion when life feels heavy.
Anaphora example: “The times when I’m happy, music was there / The times when I’m sad, music was there.” The repetition of “The times when I’m...” at the start of each line creates a rhythm that feels like a steady heartbeat. This repetition emphasises that music is ALWAYS present — in joy and in sorrow — and it makes the reader feel the poet’s deep reliance on music as a constant, faithful companion through every season of life.
The poet calls music “the needed friend” because music is there at exactly the right moment — when no other friend is nearby. A needed friend is not just any friend; it is the one you turn to when you are most alone or most in pain. Music asks no questions, judges no feelings, and never leaves. It is present in every mood and every moment — which makes it the most needed friend of all. Unlike human friends who may be busy or far away, music is always ready to listen.
The three comparisons are: (a) An ocean — vast, deep, and pulling us in (Stanza 1: “Music is the ocean that pulls me to the shore”); (b) Therapy — something that heals sadness and lifts the spirit when we feel blue (Stanza 2: music is described as the therapy she needs); (c) A friend — always present, never absent, there in happiness and in sorrow (Stanza 3: “Music, you’re the needed friend”).
1. Do you have something in your life that feels like a “friend” when no one is around? Write 2–3 sentences about it.
For many people, music, reading, drawing, or sport feels like a friend when no one is around. When you are sad or lonely, a favourite song or a good book feels like someone understands you without saying a word. It is always there, never busy, and never judges what you feel — making it the most faithful kind of companion.
2. How does music make you feel? Can you write two lines of your own poem about it?
Music makes us feel light and free, as if worries disappear for a while. Here are two lines to inspire you: “When the notes begin to play, / My troubles seem to fade away.” Try writing your own two lines — think of how music sounds, how it makes you feel inside, and what picture it creates in your mind.
See the whole poem at one glance.
Three stanzas — three beautiful ways to see music.
Mind Map — The whole poem at one glance.