Dirge Over a Nameless Grave
Dirge Over a Nameless Grave - meaning Summary
Enduring Private Grief
Longfellow's dirge depicts a pastoral graveside where nature's calm contrasts human sorrow. The poem narrates a young woman's enforced marriage to a proud man, her slow wasting and death, and the father's bitter regret. Though time moves on and public mourning fades, an unnamed lover remains at her nameless grave, sustaining private grief and unresolved guilt. The tone emphasizes loss, regret, and the persistence of mourning beyond formal rites.
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