Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SEA BURIAL, FR. MARDI by HERMAN MELVILLE

Poet Analysis

First Line: WE DROP OUR DEAD IN THE SEA
Last Line: DEEPER DOWN IN THE BOTTOMLESS SEA.
Subject(s): FUNERALS - AT SEA; BURIALS AT SEA;

We drop our dead in the sea,
The bottomless, bottomless sea;
Each bubble a hollow sigh,
As it sinks forever and aye.

We drop our dead in the sea, --
The dead reck not of aught;
We drop our dead in the sea, --
The sea ne'er gives it a thought.

Sink, sink, oh corpse, still sink,
Far down in the bottomless sea,
Where the unknown forms do prowl,
Down, down in the bottomless sea.

'Tis night above, and night all round,
And night will it be with thee;
As thou sinkest, and sinkest for aye,
Deeper down in the bottomless sea.



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