Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SONNETS: 4. SIR ALAN M'LEAN'S EFFIGY, ON INCH KENNETH by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

Poet Analysis

First Line: HARD BY THE RUINED KIRK ABOVE THE SOUND
Last Line: TIS BETTER WITH HIS BODY THAN HIS SOUL.
Subject(s): DEATH; GRAVES; DEAD, THE; TOMBS; TOMBSTONES;

HARD by the ruined kirk above the sound
Among worn headstones, old Sir Alan lies:
?------- of rich grapes buries him around;
And thou mays't see the birds withouten fear
Trip on his face and treble in his ear,
And round his senseless head buzzy summer flies.
Close by from out a trumpet comes a scroll,
Between a skull and crossbones carven deep,
And on the scroll, these words -- "The dead shall rise."
Till when whoever, under summer skies
Shall see the place that guards his quiet sleep,
From ----- ----- for a bed so held at rest
Amongst the lap of mountains, shall suggest
'Tis better with his body than his soul.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net