Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Burial of King Cormac" is a poem written by Sir Samuel Ferguson, a 19th-century Irish poet and antiquarian. The poem is based on Irish legends and folklore, with King Cormac mac Airt being a famous and legendary High King of Ireland, renowned for his wise and just rule. In the poem, Ferguson tells the tale of King Cormac's death and his unusual burial.

Main Points: The poem starts with King Cormac declaring his belief in a monotheistic God rather than the pagan gods, a notion that infuriates the priests of Crom Cruach. They curse him, and Cormac eventually chokes to death at a feast. As he is dying, Cormac requests that he not be buried with other kings at Brugh but at Rossnaree, facing the rising sun, representing his belief in a new god that will rise in the East.

Despite his dying wish, his captains decide to take his body to Brugh. However, as they attempt to cross the Boyne River, they are thwarted by rising waters. Despite several attempts, they are unable to get Cormac's body across the river. Eventually, the body is found at Rossnaree, and he is buried there.

Poetic Details: The poem is written in rhyming couplets (AABB) and uses rich imagery and metaphor. It personifies the Boyne River as an active character in the narrative, honoring Cormac's wish and preventing his body from reaching Brugh.

Devices: Ferguson uses alliteration, repetition, and imagery throughout the poem. He also uses dialogue to convey Cormac's beliefs and his dying wish. Moreover, Ferguson explores the theme of religion, using King Cormac's story to reflect on the transition from paganism to Christianity in Ireland.

Conclusion: "The Burial of King Cormac" is an intricate piece of narrative poetry that draws from Irish history and folklore to depict the death and unusual burial of King Cormac. Through his engaging storytelling and evocative imagery, Ferguson delves into the themes of religious transformation, human defiance against divine will, and nature's respect for the wishes of a just king. He leaves the reader with a poignant image of Cormac's grave, bathed in the perpetual dawn, symbolizing Cormac's unfulfilled vision of a new religious dawn in Ireland.