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Poem
December 6, 1838
Edgefield Advertiser
Edgefield, Edgefield County, South Carolina
What is this article about?
A lyrical elegy mourning a young woman's death, emphasizing silent grief, her inner beauty, and solace in her peaceful rest amid nature's blooms, while the speaker weeps alone. Attributed to Henry W. Hemans of Shrewsbury, England.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
They ask me why I do not weep?
They say my love is still,
Oh! think not sorrow is not deep
Because its voice is still;
The secret pang-the smothered sigh,
Corrode the heart, but shun the eye.
It was not beauty's power that moved
The fond heart to adore!
I loved her not as others loved,
And yet I loved her more;
For though her outward form was air,
Within was beauty still more rare.
And yet,I scarcely ought to mourn
The spirit early flown,
Ere the soft heart, by anguish torn,
Affliction's blight had known;
For I'm in tears, and she at rest,
The sufferer cannot weep the blest.
She sleeps where, in the balmy air
The perfumed wild flowers wave;
And violets - spring in garland fair
Around her hallowed grave,
And waft their sweet, their living breath,
Around the silent couch of death.
And often at the evening's close
I seek that lonely tomb,
To tend a solitary rose
which blossoms o'er her bloom:
A graceful emblem of the dead,
As pure and bright, as swiftly fled!
HENRY W HEMANS.
Shrewsbury, England.
They say my love is still,
Oh! think not sorrow is not deep
Because its voice is still;
The secret pang-the smothered sigh,
Corrode the heart, but shun the eye.
It was not beauty's power that moved
The fond heart to adore!
I loved her not as others loved,
And yet I loved her more;
For though her outward form was air,
Within was beauty still more rare.
And yet,I scarcely ought to mourn
The spirit early flown,
Ere the soft heart, by anguish torn,
Affliction's blight had known;
For I'm in tears, and she at rest,
The sufferer cannot weep the blest.
She sleeps where, in the balmy air
The perfumed wild flowers wave;
And violets - spring in garland fair
Around her hallowed grave,
And waft their sweet, their living breath,
Around the silent couch of death.
And often at the evening's close
I seek that lonely tomb,
To tend a solitary rose
which blossoms o'er her bloom:
A graceful emblem of the dead,
As pure and bright, as swiftly fled!
HENRY W HEMANS.
Shrewsbury, England.
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Love Courtship
What keywords are associated?
Mourning
Death
Love
Grave
Beauty
Elegy
Hemans
Shrewsbury
What entities or persons were involved?
Henry W Hemans. Shrewsbury, England.
Poem Details
Author
Henry W Hemans. Shrewsbury, England.
Subject
Mourning A Young Woman's Death
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas
Key Lines
They Ask Me Why I Do Not Weep?
They Say My Love Is Still,
Oh! Think Not Sorrow Is Not Deep
Because Its Voice Is Still;
The Secret Pang The Smothered Sigh,
Corrode The Heart, But Shun The Eye.
For I'm In Tears, And She At Rest,
The Sufferer Cannot Weep The Blest.
A Graceful Emblem Of The Dead,
As Pure And Bright, As Swiftly Fled!