Author: Eugene Field

---

    O Postumus, my Postumus, the years are gliding past,
    And piety will never check the wrinkles coming fast,
    The ravages of time old age's swift advance has made,
    And death, which unimpeded comes to bear us to the shade.

    Old friend, although the tearless Pluto you may strive to please,
    And seek each year with thrice one hundred bullocks to appease,
    Who keeps the thrice-huge Geryon and Tityus his slaves,
    Imprisoned fast forevermore with cold and sombre waves,

    Yet must that flood so terrible be sailed by mortals all;
    Whether perchance we may be kings and live in royal hall,
    Or lowly peasants struggling long with poverty and dearth,
    Still must we cross who live upon the favors of the earth.

    And all in vain from bloody war and contest we are free,
    And from the waves that hoarsely break upon the Adrian Sea;
    For our frail bodies all in vain our helpless terror grows
    In gloomy autumn seasons, when the baneful south wind blows.

    Alas! the black Cocytus, wandering to the world below,
    That languid river to behold we of this earth must go;
    To see the grim Danaides, that miserable race,
    And Sisyphus of olus, condemned to endless chase.

    Behind you must you leave your home and land and wife so dear,
    And of the trees, except the hated cypresses, you rear,
    And which around the funeral piles as signs of mourning grow,
    Not one will follow you, their short-lived master, there below.

    Your worthier heir the precious Ccuban shall drink galore,
    Now with a hundred keys preserved and guarded in your store,
    And stain the pavements, pouring out in waste the nectar proud,
    Better than that with which the pontiffs' feasts have been endowed.

---

Type of Poem: Elegy

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poignant poem explores the inevitability of time, mortality, and the insignificance of worldly wealth and status in the face of death. The poet addresses Postumus, a figure who seems desperate to circumvent the passage of time and death, employing an intimate and somber tone that emphasizes the shared human condition and its inescapable fate.

The poem is marked by vivid imagery and allusions to classical mythology, which underscore its themes. The references to Pluto, Geryon, Tityus, the Danaids, and Sisyphus serve to illustrate the futility of resistance to death and the universal nature of mortality. The 'thrice one hundred bullocks' represents futile attempts to appease death, while the 'black Cocytus' symbolizes the journey to the underworld.

The poem’s structure, consisting of longer stanzas with a consistent rhyme scheme, provides a rhythmic and relentless sense of time’s march, echoing the central theme. The poet's tone is sober and reflective, creating a contemplative atmosphere that invites the reader to consider their own mortality and the transient nature of earthly possessions. Despite the dark subject matter, the poem's rich imagery, rhythmic structure, and thoughtful exploration of universal themes make it a striking and accessible piece.