Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MAMMON MARRIAGE, by GEORGE MACDONALD Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The croak of a raven hoar! Last Line: On the dead-sea-shore. Subject(s): Brides; Death; Marriage; Ravens; Skulls; Dead, The; Weddings; Husbands; Wives | ||||||||
The croak of a raven hoar! A dog's howl, kennel-tied! Loud shuts the carriage door: The two are away on their ghastly ride To Death's salt shore! Where are the love and the grace? The bridegroom is thirsty and cold! The bride's skull sharpens her face! But the coachman is driving, jubilant, bold, The devil's pace. The horses shivered and shook, Waiting gaunt and haggard With sorry and evil look; But swift as a drunken wind they staggered 'Longst Lethe brook. Long since, they ran no more; Heavily pulling they died On the sand of the hopeless shore Where never swelled or sank a tide, And the salt burns sore. Flat their skeletons lie, White shadows on shining sand; The crusted reins go high To the crumbling coachman's bony hand On his knees awry. Side by side, jarring no more, Day and night side by side, Each by a doorless door, Motionless sit the bridegroom and bride On the Dead-Sea-shore. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BLESSING FOR A WEDDING by JANE HIRSHFIELD A SUITE FOR MARRIAGE by DAVID IGNATOW ADVICE TO HER SON ON MARRIAGE by MARY BARBER THE RABBI'S SON-IN-LAW by SABINE BARING-GOULD KISSING AGAIN by DORIANNE LAUX A TIME PAST by DENISE LEVERTOV LOST AND FOUND by GEORGE MACDONALD THAT HOLY THING by GEORGE MACDONALD THE BABY, FR. AT THE BACK OF THE NORTH WIND by GEORGE MACDONALD |
|