A Sea Dirge by Lewis Carroll (1865)
The poem is a lamentation of the loss of innocence and the passing of youth. It describes a sea burial where a young person's body is being lowered into the water, surrounded by mourners who are singing a dirge. The speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death.
By Lewis Carroll · First published 1865 · Genre: Poetry, Humor, Lyrical · 616 words
First lines
THERE are certain things-as, a spider, a ghost, The income-tax, gout, an umbrella for three- That I hate, but the thing that I hate the most Is a thing they call the Sea.
Pour some salt water over the floor- Ugly I'm sure you'll allow it to be: Suppose it extended a mile or more, _That's_ very like the Sea.
What this Textopian page supports
A Sea Dirge is listed on Textopian as a poem by Lewis Carroll, dated 1865 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Lewis Carroll
- Date: 1865 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Humor, Lyrical, Nonsense, Satire
- Length: 616 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- The Widows Lament In Springtime by William Carlos Williams
- A Dirge by Madison Cawein
- Mater Dolorosa by Madison Cawein
- Requiescat by Matthew Arnold
- The Cameo by Edna St Vincent Millay
- Low Tide by Edna St Vincent Millay
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse, employing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Humor — The text uses satire and absurdity to critique and express disdain for the sea, showcasing a humorous tone.
- Lyrical — The work expresses personal feelings and reflections, characteristic of lyrical poetry.
- Nonsense — The playful language and illogical scenarios align with the nonsense genre, often found in whimsical poetry.
Tags
Poem · Nautical · Melancholy · Loss · Grief · Sea · Ocean · Dirge · Funeral · Mourning · Sorrow · Longing