A Dirge by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The poem explores the theme of grief and mourning, describing a funeral procession and the emotions of those who are bereaved. The speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death, lamenting the loss of a loved one. Through vivid imagery and somber tone, the poem conveys a sense of sorrow and despair.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Gothic, Romantic · 269 words
First lines
Death and a dirge at midnight; / Yet never a soul in the house / Heard anything more than the throb and beat / Of a beautiful waltz of Strauss.
Dead, dead, dead, and staring, / With a ghastly smile on its face; / But the world saw only laughing eyes / And roses, and billows of lace.
Floating and whirling together, / Into the beautiful night, / How little you dreamed of the ghastly thing / I was hiding away from your sight.
Meeting your dark eyes' splendour, / Feeling your warm, sweet breath, / How could you know that my passionate heart / Had died a horrible death?
What this Textopian page supports
A Dirge is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1883 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Date: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Gothic, Romantic, Psychological, Tragic
- Length: 269 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for A Dirge by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse and employs poetic devices such as rhyme and meter.
- Gothic — Themes of death, the macabre, and hidden horrors are central to the text.
- Romantic — The poem explores intense emotions and personal suffering, common in Romantic literature.
- Psychological — The narrative delves into the inner turmoil and hidden feelings of the speaker.
Tags
Death · Mourning · Loss · Grief · Sorrow · Sadness · Melancholy · Poetry · Elegy · Funeral · Burial · Memorial