Poor Mans Grave. (From The Villagers Verse-Book.)

The poem is characterized by themes of mortality, equality, and spiritual aspiration. The initial tone of melancholy is established through the depiction of a community mourning the death of 'Old Andrews'. The poet uses the image of children crying around the grave to emphasize the impact of Andrews' death, suggesting that he was a figure of significance within the community.

The second stanza broadens the poem's perspective, highlighting the universal nature of death. Rich and poor, high and low, all are equal in death's domain. The poet invokes the Biblical figures of Dives and Lazarus to further underline this theme of ultimate equality. The contrast between Dives, a man of worldly wealth, and Lazarus, a beggar in life who achieves heavenly reward after death, serves to remind the reader of the transient nature of earthly success and the enduring value of spiritual virtues.

Finally, the poem ends on a hopeful note, expressing a desire for spiritual salvation and fearlessness in the face of death. This shift in tone from melancholy to hope, and the journey from individual loss to universal understanding, gives the poem a sense of completeness and balance. The poet's use of a simple, rhythmic structure and straightforward language makes these profound themes accessible to a general audience.