After A Lecture On Shelley

By Oliver Wendell Holmes

    One broad, white sail in Spezzia's treacherous bay     On comes the blast; too daring bark, beware I     The cloud has clasped her; to! it melts away;     The wide, waste waters, but no sail is there.     Morning: a woman looking on the sea;     Midnight: with lamps the long veranda burns;     Come, wandering sail, they watch, they burn for thee!     Suns come and go, alas! no bark returns.     And feet are thronging on the pebbly sands,     And torches flaring in the weedy caves,     Where'er the waters lay with icy hands     The shapes uplifted from their coral graves.     Vainly they seek; the idle quest is o'er;     The coarse, dark women, with their hanging locks,     And lean, wild children gather from the shore     To the black hovels bedded in the rocks.     But Love still prayed, with agonizing wail,     "One, one last look, ye heaving waters, yield!"     Till Ocean, clashing in his jointed mail,     Raised the pale burden on his level shield.     Slow from the shore the sullen waves retire;     His form a nobler element shall claim;     Nature baptized him in ethereal fire,     And Death shall crown him with a wreath of flame.     Fade, mortal semblance, never to return;     Swift is the change within thy crimson shroud;     Seal the white ashes in the peaceful urn;     All else has risen in yon silvery cloud.     Sleep where thy gentle Adonais lies,     Whose open page lay on thy dying heart,     Both in the smile of those blue-vaulted skies,     Earth's fairest dome of all divinest art.     Breathe for his wandering soul one passing sigh,     O happier Christian, while thine eye grows dim, -     In all the mansions of the house on high,     Say not that Mercy has not one for him!

Share & Analyze This Poem

Spread the beauty of poetry or dive deeper into analysis

Analyze This Poem

Discover the literary devices, structure, and deeper meaning

Create Image

Transform this poem into a beautiful shareable image

Copy to Clipboard

Save this poem for personal use or sharing offline


Share the Love of Poetry

Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a deeply emotive and striking exploration of the themes of loss, hope, and the inexorable passage of time. The central narrative, involving the disappearance of a sailboat and the subsequent vigil kept by those left behind, serves as a poignant metaphor for the anticipation and eventual acceptance of a loved one's death. The tone is somber and melancholic, vividly capturing the despair and longing of those who wait in vain.

The poem's structure is rich in visual imagery and sensory detail, effectively transporting readers into the heart of the scene. Particularly evocative are the descriptions of the sea's icy hands and the pale burden it eventually yields, which underscore the cold, indifferent power of nature. The use of metaphors, such as the ocean 'clashing in his jointed mail', lends an epic, almost mythic quality to the narrative, contrasting starkly with the mundane reality of loss.

The poem also uses poignant personification, as in "Love still prayed," to imbue abstract concepts with a visceral, human quality. This, coupled with the use of natural elements as metaphors for life, death, and transformation, gives the poem a deeply spiritual undertone. The transition from despair to acceptance and even hope for the missing person's spiritual journey is movingly depicted in the final stanzas, ending on a profound note of faith and resignation.

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.