A Dirge.

By Christina Georgina Rossetti

Elegy
    Why were you born when the snow was falling?     You should have come to the cuckoo's calling,     Or when grapes are green in the cluster,     Or, at least, when lithe swallows muster     For their far off flying     From summer dying.     Why did you die when the lambs were cropping?     You should have died at the apples' dropping,     When the grasshopper comes to trouble,     And the wheat-fields are sodden stubble,     And all winds go sighing     For sweet things dying.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a lamentation of the speaker's own mortality, in which the poet questions the timing of their birth and death in relation to the natural world. The poem's structure, with its consistent four-line stanzas and iambic tetrameter meter, contributes to a sense of inevitability and cyclical time. The use of imagery, such as the snow was falling, grapes are green in the cluster, and grasshopper comes to trouble, evokes a sense of longing for a lost moment of perfect innocence and beauty. The voice is melancholic and reflective, with a tone that shifts from wistfulness to despair as the poem progresses. A structural turn occurs in the second stanza, where the tone darkens and the language becomes more vivid and evocative. The use of phrases like lamb's cropping and wheat-fields are sodden stubble creates a sense of desolation and decay, underscoring the speaker's mortality. The observation that the natural world is constantly shedding its beauty and vitality, while the speaker remains frozen in time, is a poignant and powerful commentary on the human condition.

Understanding Elegy

An elegy is a form of poetry that expresses sorrow or lamentation, often for someone who has died. This type of poetry serves as a tribute to the deceased, reflecting on their life and the grief left behind.

Elegies are deeply emotional and personal, exploring themes of loss, mourning, and remembrance. Here are some defining characteristics:

  • Mournful Tone: Elegies are characterized by a tone of sadness and reflection, as the poet grapples with the pain of loss.
  • Tribute to the Deceased: The subject of an elegy is often someone who has passed away, with the poem serving as a memorial that honors their life and legacy.
  • Personal Reflection: Elegies often include personal reflections on the impact of the deceased on the poet's life, as well as broader musings on mortality and the human condition.
  • Structure and Form: While elegies can vary in form, they often follow a traditional structure that includes an expression of grief, praise for the deceased, and a sense of consolation or acceptance.

From ancient times to the present, elegies have provided a way for poets to navigate the complexities of grief and loss, offering solace and a means of preserving the memory of those who have passed.