The Old Man's Funeral

William Cullen Bryant 1794 (Cummington) – 1878 (New York City)



Ye sigh not when the sun, his course fulfilled,
His glorious course, rejoicing earth and sky,
In the soft evening, when the winds are stilled,
Sinks where his islands of departure spread
O'er the warm-colored heaven and ruddy mountain head.

Why weep ye then for him, who, having won
The bound of man's appointed years, at last.
Life's blessings all enjoyed, life's labors done,
Serenely to his final rest has passed;
While the soft memory of his virtues yet
Lingers like twilight hues, when the bright sun is set?

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

28 sec read
124

Quick analysis:

Scheme AXABB CDCDEE
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 513
Words 91
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 5, 6

William Cullen Bryant

William Cullen Bryant was an American romantic poet, journalist, and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post. more…

All William Cullen Bryant poems | William Cullen Bryant Books

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