A Dirge.

By Walter R. Cassels

Elegy
    Winds are sighing round the drooping eaves;         Sadly float the midnight hours away;     Dun and grey athwart the ivy-leaves,         Fall the first pale chilly tints of day,         Ah me! the weary, weary tints of day.     Soon the darkness will be past and gone;         Soon the silence spread its noiseless wing;     Sleep will strike its tent and hurry on;         Life commence its weary wandering,         Ah me! its weary, weary wandering.     Not the sighing of my lonely heart,         Not the heavy grief-clouds hanging o'er,     Not its silence can with night depart:         Gloom hangs o'er it ever, evermore,         Ah me! darkness ever, evermore.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem, a single, unified stanza of fifteen lines, captures the relentless melancholy of a speaker who finds no respite from sorrow, even as the external world transitions from night to day. The form mirrors this emotional stagnation: the iambic rhythm and rhyme scheme (ABACBC) create a steady, unvarying cadence, while the repetition of Ah me! and the refrain-like structure of the final lines reinforce a sense of cyclical despair. The imagery shifts from the external winds, ivy, and the chilly tints of day to the internal, as the speaker’s lonely heart and grief-clouds become the focus. The volta, if it can be called that, occurs in the final stanza, where the speaker rejects the possibility of relief, declaring that gloom hangs o'er it ever, evermore. The poem’s power lies in its refusal to offer consolation, instead settling into an unbroken lament.

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.