At The Bridal

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox

    Oh! but the bride was lovely,          Oh! but the scene was bright,     And why was the bridegroom's face as pale          As his lady's robe of white?     Did you not see beside him          A guest unasked, unbid?     Who came up the aisle with silent feet          And gazed at him? he did!     He saw her eyes upon him,          He felt her icy breath;     And under the bride's warm clinging hand          There crept the touch of death.     And above the low responses          There fell upon his ear     A voice forbidding the nuptial banns;          But no one else could hear.     And when the ring was given,          And when the prayer was said,     He knew, as he led his bride away,          That he was not truly wed.     And while they sat at the banquet,          And mirth flowed like the wine,     A dead girl's voice hissed in his ear,          'You are not hers, but mine.'     Oh! never beside his hearthstone,          And never in any place,     Shall he be free from the haunting thought          Of that accusing face.

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Poem Details

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

Analysis & Notes:
This poem, with its dark, captivating narrative, explores themes of guilt, death, and betrayal through the unexpected juxtaposition of a joyous wedding and an ominous presence. The tone is foreboding and eerie, imbuing the traditionally celebratory setting with a sense of dread and melancholy. The structure of the poem, with its regular rhyme and rhythm, lends a haunting quality to the narrative, underscoring the inevitability of the groom's guilt and the ghostly presence's claim. This is further highlighted by the refrain-like repetition of the exclamatory "Oh!", which emphasizes the stark contrast between the apparent happiness of the wedding and the underlying horror.

The poet notably employs personification to give death a palpably chilling presence. The mysterious uninvited guest, who is later revealed to be the embodiment of a dead girl, acts as a symbol of the groom's past misdeeds. This is expressed through the use of chilling imagery such as, "He felt her icy breath," and "There crept the touch of death." The auditory imagery of the dead girl's voice hissing accusations further enhances the eerie atmosphere. The poem culminates in the perpetual torment of the groom, a powerful portrayal of guilt that transcends death and haunts life, reinforcing the poem's overarching themes and leaving a lingering sense of unease in the reader.

Understanding Ballads

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music, that has been a cornerstone of storytelling across various cultures. Traditionally passed down orally, ballads are known for their rhythmic structure and often tell tales of love, adventure, and heroism.


Ballads are characterized by their strong rhythm and repetition, making them both memorable and engaging. Here are some defining features:

  • Narrative Structure: Ballads typically tell a story, often a dramatic or emotional tale that unfolds in a straightforward, chronological order.
  • Quatrain Stanzas: Most ballads are composed of quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a rhyme scheme of ABAB or ABCB, which adds to the musicality of the verse.
  • Repetition: Refrains or repeated lines are common in ballads, helping to emphasize key themes or emotions and making the ballad easier to remember.
  • Oral Tradition: Many ballads originated from oral traditions, which means they were passed down through generations by word of mouth before being written down.

From medieval minstrels to contemporary songwriters, ballads have continued to evolve, remaining a beloved form of expression that captures the human experience in a way that is both poetic and accessible.