Dirge

George Darley 1795 (Dublin) – 1846 (London)



Prayer unsaid, and mass unsung, Deadman's dirge must still be rung:
Dingle-dong, the dead-bells sound! Mermen chant his dirge around!

Wash him bloodless, smooth him fair, Stretch his limbs, and sleek his hair
Dingle-dong, the dead-bells go! Mermen swing them to and fro!

In the wormless sand shall he Feast for no foul glutton be:
Dingle-dong, the dead-bells chime! Mermen keep the tone and time!

We must with a tombstone brave Shut the shark out from his grave
Dingle-dong, the dead-bells toll! Mermen dirgers ring his knoll!

Such a slab will we lay o'er him All the dead shall rise before him!
Dingle-dong, the dead-bells boom! Mermen lay him in his tomb!

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on May 03, 2023

34 sec read
99

Quick analysis:

Scheme XX XX XX XX XX
Closest metre Iambic heptameter
Characters 657
Words 114
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 2, 2, 2, 2, 2

George Darley

George Darley was an Irish poet, novelist, and critic. more…

All George Darley poems | George Darley Books

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