Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Seymour Bridges' "On a Dead Child" is a poignant and moving poem that reflects on the death of a child. The poem was first published in Bridges' collection of poems, "Poetical Works of Robert Bridges" in 1898. 

"On a Dead Child" is a poem that reflects on the death of a child. The speaker describes the way in which the child's death has affected those around them, including the speaker themselves. The poem's focus on the child's death underscores the importance of recognizing the fragility of life and the impact that death can have on those left behind.

"On a Dead Child" is written in free verse, with no consistent rhyme scheme or meter. The poem's lack of traditional form emphasizes the importance of the content over the structure. The poem also features a number of poetic devices, including metaphor, imagery, and repetition.

The metaphor of the child as a flower that has withered and died is a recurring theme throughout the poem, emphasizing the way in which the child's death has affected those around them. The vivid imagery of the "cold ground" and the "damp earth" creates a powerful image of the finality of death. Finally, the repetition of the phrase "on a dead child" emphasizes the way in which the child's death pervades every aspect of the speaker's experience.

"On a Dead Child" is a powerful poem that reflects on the fragility of life and the impact that death can have on those left behind. The poem's emphasis on the child's death underscores the importance of recognizing the value of life and the need to cherish the time that we have with those we love.

Additionally, the poem can be read as a commentary on the power of grief and the way in which it can shape our understanding of the world. The speaker's description of the way in which the child's death has affected them underscores the importance of recognizing the impact that death can have on our lives and the need to find ways to cope with the grief that comes with loss.

"On a Dead Child" is a poignant and moving poem that reflects on the fragility of life and the impact that death can have on those left behind. Bridges' use of poetic elements, such as metaphor, imagery, and repetition, creates a vivid and emotional image of the finality of death and the power of grief. The poem's emphasis on the importance of recognizing the value of life and the need to cherish the time that we have with those we love underscores the need to find ways to cope with the grief that comes with loss.

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