Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MARTHA; DIED JANUARY 7, 1861, by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Sexton! Martha's dead and gone Last Line: Toll the bell! Subject(s): Household Employees; Servants; Domestics; Maids | ||||||||
SEXTON! Martha's dead and gone; Toll the bell! toll the bell! Her weary hands their labor cease; Good night, poor Martha, -- sleep in peace! Toll the bell! Sexton! Martha's dead and gone; Toll the bell! toll the bell! For many a year has Martha said, "I'm old and poor, -- would I were dead!" Toll the bell! Sexton! Martha's dead and gone; Toll the bell! toll the bell! She'll bring no more, by day or night, Her basket full of linen white. Toll the bell! Sexton! Martha's dead and gone; Toll the bell! toll the bell! 'T is fitting she should lie below A pure white sheet of drifted snow. Toll the bell! Sexton! Martha's dead and gone; Toll the bell! toll the bell! Sleep, Martha, sleep, to wake in light, Where all the robes are stainless white. Toll the bell! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IBIS; FOR LORI GOLDENSOHN by NORMAN DUBIE PLAINT OF THE POET IN AN IGNORANT AGE by CAROLYN KIZER LEDA'S HANDMAIDEN by ELEANOR WILNER THE HOUSEKEEPER by ROBERT FROST A BALLAD OF THE BOSTON TEA-PARTY [DECEMBER 16, 1773] by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES |
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