A Heartrending Elegy for the Departed: The Dead Bride

In the sombre halls of grief, where mourners gather with garlands to deck her tomb, a bereaved soul grieves inconsolably over the loss of the lovely departed bride. The scene is one of sorrow and lamentation, as the poet wrestles with emotions that surge wildly, flooding their heart with tears. Amidst the funeral chants echoing through the oaken floors, the poet seeks solace in the company of the deceased, yearning for moments of companionship in the realm of the departed.

The Dead Bride

All day long, by porch and stair,
Mourners throng the house of gloom—
Maids, and village matrons fair,
Garlands bring to deck her tomb.

And they press me from her side—
Speak in accents low and deep,
But my grief swells wild and wide,
While I weep, and weep, and weep

For the lovely dead who lies
All so white and silent there;
With the death-sleep in her eyes,
And the lilies in her hair!

Friends, to-night no anthem raise,
Thankful be for those who live!
For the calm dead need no praise—
Such vain praise as earth can give.

Lately, while I hovered long,
O’er the dark-palled bed of death;
Low, I heard the funeral song
Chanted in the hall beneath.

Up the vaulted roof it stole—
Echoed through the oaken floors—
With dim horror shook my soul—
Filled the gusty corridors.

Yet, to-night, sweet friends, I crave
No kind solace!—let me be;
And those last hours I would have,
With the dead for company.

All in solemn pomp arrayed,
Bear her to her resting place—
Kindliest wife and truest maid,
And the last flower of her race.

The elegy for the departed bride evokes a poignant and melancholic sentiment, capturing the anguish of loss and the yearning for moments shared with the deceased. The poet’s longing for the solace of the departed in the face of mourning reflects the depths of grief and the solemnity of saying farewell to a beloved one. The elegy stands as a testament to the enduring power of love and the profound impact that the loss of a loved one can leave on the heart. Through the heartfelt verses, the poet immortalizes the memory of the dead bride, leaving an indelible mark on the reader’s soul.

Penini.

Limerick Echo – Tuesday 11 July 1905