They Die-The Dead Return not-Misery
Beside an open grave, Misery is pictured as a grey-haired youth weakly calling the names of dead loved ones. The speaker recalls Misery watching sunsets with them and addresses his inconsolable grief; the familiar scene, pain, and tombs remain.
By Percy Bysshe Shelley · Genre: Elegiac Poetry, Lyric Poetry · 181 words
First lines
1.
They die-the dead return not-Misery / Sits near an open grave and calls them over, / A Youth with hoary hair and haggard eye- / They are the names of kindred, friend and lover, / Which he so feebly calls-they all are gone- / Fond wretch, all dead! those vacant names alone, / This most familiar scene, my pain- / These tombs-alone remain.
2.
Misery, my sweetest friend-oh, weep no more! / Thou wilt not be consoled-I wonder not! / For I have seen thee from thy dwelling's door / Watch the calm sunset with them, and this spot / Was even as bright and calm, but transitory, / And now thy hopes are gone, thy hair is hoary; / This most familiar scene, my pain- / These tombs-alone remain.
Genres
- Elegiac Poetry — The two stanzas lament departed loved ones through unanswered calls, vanished hopes, and a repeated refrain about surviving pain and tombs.
- Lyric Poetry — The speaker directly addresses personified Misery and recalls a shared scene of sunset to express grief.
Tags
grief · death · lost loved ones · graves · personification
What this Textopian page supports
They Die-The Dead Return not-Misery is listed on Textopian as a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Percy Bysshe Shelley
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Elegiac Poetry, Lyric Poetry
- Length: 181 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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