Goethe

Anacreon’s Grave

Anacreon’s Grave - meaning Summary

Celebrating a Joyous Poet

The poem depicts an idyllic tomb set amid roses, laurel and vine where birds and insects keep company. The speaker presents the grave as a place the gods have lovingly planted, celebrating Anacreon’s life as one of seasonal joy. Rather than mourning decline, the poem treats death as restful shelter: the poet, who reveled in spring, summer and autumn, is at last protected from winter in a gentle, living memorial.

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Here where roses bloom, where laurel and vine both mingle, Where the turtledove coos, where the cricket sings in delight, What grave is this that the gods have adorned and planted, With living beauty? It’s where Anacreon rests. The happy poet enjoyed spring, summer and autumn: And this mound, at last, from winter is sheltering him.

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