Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DEAD WIFE, by DORA SIGERSON SHORTER Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: Thrice turned she in her narrow bed Last Line: "and to his love say nay!" Alternate Author Name(s): Sigerson, Dora; Shorter, Mrs. Clement Subject(s): Death; Dead, The | ||||||||
THRICE turned she in her narrow bed, His tears disturbed her rest; She kissed the little babe that lay So still upon her breast. "Dream well," she said, "my daughter dear, Since I must leave you lone; Three times your father's piteous voice Did make a grievous moan; "Three times your father's bitter cry Did wake me from my sleep, So must I go and comfort him And bid him not to weep." Her fingers chill she did unlace From off her breast so white; "Poor hands," quoth she, "oft for his sake You toiled a weary night." She stepped out from her grave so green Upon her feet so slim, "Oft were you wounded on the road Where you did follow him." Lone went she up the long boreen Wherein her love did dwell, And there she met a nut-brown maid She once did love full well. "Now God between us and all harm!" The maid she fearful cried; "I thought you slept within your grave, Your little babe beside. "I thought you lay all glad in rest Who now doth walk alone; What grief is on your soul, poor ghost, What wrong would you atone?" "My many sins I do deplore," The pale young ghost replied; "Yet would I sleep to-night full well My little babe beside. "From Life's long road all weary I Would hold such sleeping blest, Save for the grief of one who mourns And will not let me rest "Save for the tears of one I loved O'er all the world beside, Who held me close unto his breast And named me once his bride. "I know, as no birds sing for me, He dreads the thrushes' song; Since I am lying in the dark, He thinks the day too long. "And so I left my little babe All lone in her cold bed, So I might draw him to my side And dry the tears he shed; "So I might bid him weep no more, But Heaven's pity take, That bade me forth to bring my dear From grief and lone heartbreak; "Within the shadow of the tomb In one embrace to rest, My shoulder for his weary head, His babe upon my breast." Now when the maiden all so pale This piteous tale did hear, She loosed her braids of nut-brown hair, And dropped full oft a tear. "Now go you back, poor ghost," said she, "And may your sleep be sound; And grieve you naught for any man Who walks the upper ground. "And do not wake for any soul Who on this earth doth live; For if your dear doth grieve him sore You could not comfort give. "For he doth weep the lone night through And all the weary day, Since I unto his suit am cold And to his love say nay!" | 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 THE WIND ON THE HILLS by DORA SIGERSON SHORTER |
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