Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MEMORIAL DAY, by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: Why deck with flow'rs these humble mounds? Last Line: A dearer destiny than dirgeful death. Subject(s): Holidays; Memorial Day; Declaration Day | ||||||||
Why deck with flow'rs these humble mounds? Why gather round this fast decaying mold? Why doth remembrance keep her solemn rounds And wrap these sleepers in her loving fold? Why kneel, ye silent mourners, here To drop the reverential tear? Flesh is but dust when parted from the breath. Flesh is but dust, but worth of soul is gold! 'Tis not the dust we honor, but the brave And noble spirits that it once did hold. So kneel we weeping at the grave, As at the door through which have passed, To enter into mansions vast, The heroes who have gone to meet A dearer destiny than dirgeful death. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MEMORIAL DAY by JOSEPHINE MILES MEMORIAL DAY FOR THE WAR DEAD by YEHUDA AMICHAI MEMORIAL DAY by MICHAEL ANANIA AN ODE ON THE UNVEILING OF THE SHAW MEMORIA BOSTON COMMON, MAY 31, 1897 by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH FREDERICKSBURG by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE DEATH OF GRANT by AMBROSE BIERCE MEMORIAL DAY by WILLIAM E. BROOKS VANQUISHED; ON THE DEATH OF GENERAL GRANT by FRANCIS FISHER BROWNE A BANJO SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR |
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