Requiem by Virna Sheard (1931)
The work is a lyrical elegy memorializing those lost to conflict and sacrifice. It mourns the fallen, evoking nature’s tender, almost mystical, role in comforting grief. Throughout, natural elements such as wind, moon, and earth are called upon to gently cradle the dead, symbolizing both the fragility of life and the regenerative promise of nature after loss. The work interweaves classical and biblical imagery, invoking divine authority to affirm that pain, as costly as it is, may ultimately secure peace. Its tone is austere yet lyrical, balancing the immediate horror of tragedy with a broader, almost transcendent understanding of sacrifice. By portraying death as both an end and a necessary passage toward eventual redemption, the text meditates on the cyclical nature of destruction and rebirth. The poem challenges readers to recognize that profound sorrow and sacrifice can yield a higher purpose, even as they leave scars that time alone does not easily erase. Overall, the work stands as a solemn tribute to the irrevocable loss wrought by violent upheavals and a cautious affirmation that even in immense suffering, there exists the possibility of renewal and hope.
By Virna Sheard · First published 1931 · Genre: Poetry, Elegy, War Poetry · 227 words
First lines
Weep for the dead; weep for the swift slain dead, November skies; Too few the tears that day and night are shed From women's eyes.
Blow o'er them lightly with a soft caress, Wind of the sea; If you are tender they may miss love less -- Where'er they be.
Come, gentle moon, swing low your lantern light On reddened fields, And find the lonely harvest of the night That battle yields.
Banish the darkness filled with quivering dread, Lest they should know Some last strange horror, -- even they -- the dead; -- Sweet moon, swing low!
What this Textopian page supports
Requiem is listed on Textopian as a poem by Virna Sheard, dated 1931 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Virna Sheard
- Date: 1931 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Elegy, War Poetry, Spiritual/Religious
- Length: 227 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is composed entirely in verse, utilizing structured language to convey deep emotion.
- Elegy — The text functions as a lamentation for the dead, emphasizing sorrow and mourning.
- War Poetry — References to battle, sacrifice, and the harsh realities of conflict underscore its war-related themes.
- Spiritual/Religious — Invocations of celestial bodies and divine elements introduce a spiritual dimension to the mourning and sacrifice depicted.
Tags
historical · drama · romance · family saga · loss · grief · forgiveness · redemption · mystery · spiritual · inheritance · legacy