Blessed are the Dead
The speaker calls the dead blessed because they have ascended to God and escaped the sorrow and toil that burden the living. Contrasting their heavenly rest with earthly anguish, the speaker asks Christ to release the living from their bonds and lead them to joy and rest with him.
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow · Genre: Christian Devotional Poetry, Religious Poetry · 257 words
First lines
By Simon Dach
Oh, how blest are ye whose toils are ended! / Who, through death, have unto God ascended! / Ye have arisen / From the cares which keep us still in prison.
We are still as in a dungeon living, / Still oppressed with sorrow and misgiving; / Our undertakings / Are but toils, and troubles, and heart-breakings.
Ye meanwhile, are in your chambers sleeping, / Quiet, and set free from all our weeping; / No cross nor trial / Hinders your enjoyments with denial.
What this Textopian page supports
Blessed are the Dead is listed on Textopian as a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Christian Devotional Poetry, Religious Poetry
- Length: 257 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Blessed are the Dead by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Genres
- Christian Devotional Poetry — The closing stanza directly petitions Christ to release the living from earthly bonds and grant the soul rest with him.
- Religious Poetry — The rhymed stanzas describe the dead ascending to God, receiving comfort from Christ, and enjoying heaven.
Tags
death · heaven · Christ · earthly suffering · prayer · rest