The Hearse-Horse by Bliss Carman
The speaker reflects on the somber task of a hearse-horse, carrying the dead to their final resting place. The horse's strength and endurance are contrasted with the fragility of human life.
By Bliss Carman · First published 1896 · Genre: Poetry, Canadian Literature · 193 words
First lines
Said the hearse-horse to the coffin, / "What the devil have you there? / I may trot from court to square, / Yet it neither swears nor groans, / When I jolt it over stones. " / Said the coffin to the hearse-horse, / "Bones! "
Said the hearse-horse to the coffin, / "What the devil have you there, / With that purple frozen stare? / Where the devil has it been / To get that shadow grin? " / Said the coffin to the hearse-horse, / "Skin! "
Said the hearse-horse to the coffin, / "What the devil have you there? / It has fingers, it has hair; / Yet it neither kicks nor squirms / At the undertaker's terms. " / Said the coffin to the hearse-horse, / "Worms! "
What this Textopian page supports
The Hearse-Horse is listed on Textopian as a poem by Bliss Carman, dated 1896 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Bliss Carman
- Date: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Canadian Literature
- Length: 193 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Hearse-Horse by Bliss Carman
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — Bliss Carman is known for his poetic composition style, and this work follows that tradition.
- Canadian Literature — As Bliss Carman is a celebrated Canadian author, his works figure prominently in the Canadian literary canon.
Tags
gothic · horror · supernatural · fantasy · mystery · thriller · death · grief · loss · sadness · melancholy · irony