Famous Death Song Poems by Famous Poets

These are examples of famous Death Song poems written by some of the greatest and most-well-known modern and classical poets. PoetrySoup is a great educational poetry resource of famous death song poems. These examples illustrate what a famous death song poem looks like and its form, scheme, or style (where appropriate).

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The Dirge of Wallace

by Thomas Campbell
 When Scotland's great Regent, our warrior most dear, 
The debt of his nature did pay, 
T' was Edward, the cruel, had reason to fear, 
And cause to be struck with dismay. 

At the window of Edward the raven did croak, 
Though Scotland a widow became; 
Each tie of true honor to Wallace he broke- 
The raven croaked "Sorrow and...Read more of this...

A Death Song

by William Morris
 What cometh here from west to east awending?
And who are these, the marchers stern and slow?
We bear the message that the rich are sending
Aback to those who bade them wake and know.
Not one, not one, nor thousands must they slay,
But one and all if they would dusk the day. 

We asked them for a life of toilsome earning,
They bade...Read more of this...

A Death Song

by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Lay me down beneaf de willers in de grass,
Whah de branch 'll go a-singin' as it pass.
An' w'en I 's a-layin' low,
I kin hyeah it as it go
Singin', "Sleep, my honey, tek yo' res' at las'."
Lay me nigh to whah hit meks a little pool,
An' de watah stan's so quiet lak an' cool,
Whah de little birds in spring,
Ust to come...Read more of this...

Shall the Harp Then Be Silent

by Thomas Moore
 Shall the Harp then be silent, when he who first gave 
To our country a name, is withdrawn from all eyes? 
Shall a Minstrel of Erin stand mute by the grave 
Where the first -- where the last of her Patriots lies? 

No -- faint though the death-song may fall from his lips, 
Though his Harp, like his soul,...Read more of this...

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