Written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in Clevedon, Somersetshire, on August 20, 1795, "The Eolian Harp" was published in his 1796 collection of poems. This poem was one of Coleridge's favorites, which he revised many times throughout his life.
It stands as a beloved example of Coleridge's "conversation poems," a style that aims to be conversational in its everyday topics and language, inviting the reader to share a more intimate role with the speaker. As exhibited in this poem, one can imagine a living human spontaneously orating its contents to the reader in their parlor or at another social gathering. The rhythm of human thought and speech is captured here by Coleridge as it discusses the interaction of wind and harp as symbolic of the interaction of natural and supernatural forces with living creatures. It is representative of Coleridge's fascination with these forces and his method of making the contents of poetry more accessible to the everyman. It also speaks to the larger themes of imagination in the Romantic period, as poets muse on humanity's role in observing and capturing nature's beauty.
Mike White. "It’s Just Us Talking Here: Coleridge’s Conversation Poems." AGNI, It’s Just Us Talking Here: Coleridge’s Conversation Poems | AGNI Online
"Aeolian Harp: The Enchanting Sounds of a Wind-Powered Instrument." Songdio, Aeolian Harp: The Enchanting Sounds of a Wind-Powered Instrument