Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DIRGE AND HYMENAL, by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DIRGE AND HYMENAL, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Woe! Woe! This is death's hour
Last Line: Woe! Woe!
Subject(s): Death; Funerals; Happiness; Marriage; Dead, The; Burials; Joy; Delight; Weddings; Husbands; Wives


Dirge.

WOE! woe! this is death's hour
Of spring; behold his flower!
Fair babe of life, to whom
Death, and the dreamy tomb,
Was nothing yesterday,
And now is all!
The maiden, from her play
Beside her lover gay,
The church-yard voices call,
Tolling so slow,
Woe! woe!

Hymeneal.

Joy! joy! it is love's day;
Strew the young conqueror's way
With summer's glories young,
O'er which the birds have sung,
Bright weeds from fairy rings;
Here, there, away!
Joy, joy, the tree-bird sings,
Joy, joy, a hundred springs,
Melodies ever say,—
Maiden and boy,
Joy! joy!

Dirge.

She cut the roses down,
And wreathed her bridal crown.
Death, playful, called her 'blossom,'
And tore her from life's bosom.
Fair maiden, or fair ghost,—
Which is thy name?—
Come to the spectral host;
They pity thee the most,
And, to the cold world's shame,
Soft cry they, low,
Woe! woe!





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