Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE PRINCE IS DEAD, by HELEN MARIA HUNT FISKE JACKSON Poet's Biography First Line: A room in the palace is shut. The king Last Line: The prince is dead. Alternate Author Name(s): H. H.; Holm, Saxe; Jackson, Helen Hunt Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; Death; Nations; Tears; Royal Court Life; Royalty; Kings; Queens; Dead, The | ||||||||
A room in the palace is shut. The king And the queen are sitting in black. All day weeping servants will run and bring, But the heart of the queen will lack All things; and the eyes of the king will swim With tears which must not be shed, But will make all the air float dark and dim, As he looks at each gold and silver toy, And thinks how it gladdened the royal boy, And dumbly writhes while the courtiers read How all the nations his sorrow heed. The Prince is dead. The hut has a door, but the hinge is weak, And to-day the wind blows it back; There are two sitting here who do not speak; They have begged a few rags of black. They are hard at work, though their eyes are wet With tears which must not be shed; They dare not look where the cradle is set; They hate the sunbeam which plays on the floor, But will make the baby laugh out no more; They feel as if they were turning to stone, They wish the neighbors would leave them alone. The Prince is dead. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND A LAST PRAYER by HELEN MARIA HUNT FISKE JACKSON |
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