Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"President Lincoln's Burial Hymn" is a poem by Walt Whitman that was written in 1865 in response to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The poem is a mournful tribute to Lincoln, and it reflects on the sense of loss and grief that the nation felt at the time.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing the "Martyr-Chief" and noting that his "burial hymn" is being sung. The speaker mourns that Lincoln has been taken away from the nation, and that he is now in the "silent halls of death." The next lines describe Lincoln's life as a "pure, precious drop" that has been poured out for the nation. The speaker notes that Lincoln's life was marked by honesty and compassion, and that his death has left the nation in mourning.

The second stanza reflects on the "hollow, solemn-sounding funeral bells" that are tolling for Lincoln. The speaker notes that the bells are "mingling with the sobbing cries" of the people who are mourning his death. The next lines describe the grief of the people as they realize that Lincoln will no longer be with them to guide the nation.

The third stanza reflects on the "long, long night of darkness" that has descended on the nation as a result of Lincoln's death. The speaker notes that the night is "full of tears" and that the people are weeping for their fallen leader. The final lines of the poem express the hope that Lincoln's legacy will live on, even though he is gone. The speaker notes that the "thousands" who have died in the Civil War will not have died in vain if the nation can learn from their sacrifice and move forward in a spirit of unity.

Overall, "President Lincoln's Burial Hymn" is a powerful elegy that captures the sense of loss and grief that the nation felt in the wake of Lincoln's death. The poem reflects on Lincoln's life and legacy, and it suggests that his death was a tragedy that the nation must learn from in order to move forward.

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