A Burial

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox

    To-day I had a burial of my dead.          There was no shroud, no coffin, and no pall,     No prayers were uttered and no tears were shed -          I only turned a picture to the wall.     A picture that had hung within my room          For years and years; a relic of my youth.     It kept the rose of love in constant bloom          To see those eyes of earnestness and truth.     At hours wherein no other dared intrude,          I had drawn comfort from its smiling grace.     Silent companion of my solitude,          My soul held sweet communion with that face.     I lived again the dream so bright, so brief,          Though wakened as we all are by some Fate;     This picture gave me infinite relief,          And did not leave me wholly desolate.     To-day I saw an item, quite by chance,          That robbed me of my pitiful poor dole:     A marriage notice fell beneath my glance,          And I became a lonely widowed soul.     With drooping eyes, and cheeks a burning flame,          I turned the picture to the blank wall's gloom.     My very heart had died in me of shame,          If I had left it smiling in my room.     Another woman's husband.    So, my friend,          My comfort, my sole relic of the past,     I bury thee, and, lonely, seek the end.          Swift age has swept my youth from me at last.

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Poem Details

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

Analysis & Notes:
This deeply emotive poem explores themes of love, loss, and time's relentless march. The speaker grapples with the shock of discovering that a beloved figure from their past has moved on, forcing them to confront their own solitude. The tone throughout is one of mourning and resignation, as the speaker confronts a reality that they had been attempting to avoid.

The poem is structured with regular rhyming stanzas, providing a rhythmic cadence that underscores the speaker's introspection. The repeated reference to the picture serves as an effective metaphor for the speaker's clinging to the past and their eventual acceptance of the present. The turning of the picture to face the wall marks a clear transition from the comfort of the past to the stark reality of the present.

The poem's language is both simple and profound, packed with raw emotion. Literary devices such as personification ("My soul held sweet communion with that face") and visual imagery ("With drooping eyes, and cheeks a burning flame") are used to great effect, immersing the reader in the speaker's emotional journey. The final lines, in particular, are poignant, conveying the speaker's sense of bereavement and the cruel passage of time.

In sum, this poem is a poignant exploration of lost love and the passage of time, told through vivid imagery and emotive language. It speaks to the universal human experience of growing older and having to let go of the past.

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.