O MARRIAGE-BELLS, your clamor tells Two weddings in one breath. She marries whom her love compels: -- And I wed Goodman Death! My brain is blank, my tears are red; Listen, O God: -- " I will," he said: -- And I would that I were dead. Come groomsman Grief and bridesmaid Pain Come and stand with a ghastly twain. My Bridegroom Death is come o'er the meres To wed a bride with bloody tears. Ring, ring, O bells, full merrily: Life-bells to her, death-bells to me: O Death, I am true wife to thee! MACON, GEORGIA, 1865. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SIMON THE CYRENIAN SPEAKS by COUNTEE CULLEN THE GRASSHOPPER AND CRICKET by JOHN KEATS RESIGNATION by AUGUSTE ANGELLIER A WOMAN'S SONNETS: 9 by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT FIVE LITTLE WANDERINGS: 4. MANHOOD by BERTON BRALEY REMEMBRANCE by MARGARET E. BRUNER |