The Little White Hearse by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The poem explores the theme of death and mourning, describing a funeral procession where the hearse is little and white, carrying the body of a young woman who died prematurely. The speaker reflects on the brevity of life and the inevitability of death, lamenting the loss of beauty and youth.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1889 · Genre: Poetry, Elegy, Sentimental Literature · 308 words
First lines
Somebody's baby was buried to-day- / The empty white hearse from the grave rumbled back, / And the morning somehow seemed less smiling and gay / As I paused on the walk while it crossed on its way, / And a shadow seemed drawn o'er the sun's golden tract.
Somebody's baby was laid out to rest, / White as a snowdrop, and fair to behold, / And the soft little hands were crossed over the breast, / And those hands and the lips and the eyelids were pressed / With kisses as hot as the eyelids were cold.
What this Textopian page supports
The Little White Hearse is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1889 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: 1889 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Elegy, Sentimental Literature, Victorian Literature, Narrative Poetry
- Length: 308 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Little White Hearse by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
- Never Mind by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- More Fortunate by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Last Love by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Only A Glove by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- A Mans Good Bye by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- On Parting by Lord Byron
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse form with a focus on rhythm and meter.
- Elegy — The poem mourns the death of a child and reflects on themes of loss and sorrow.
- Sentimental Literature — The poem evokes strong emotional responses and focuses on themes of grief and empathy.
- Victorian Literature — The style and themes are characteristic of the Victorian era, including a focus on death and mourning.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · Romance · Death · Grief · Loss · Mourning · Sorrow · Love · Memory · Nostalgia · Longing