Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Admonition to Those Who Mourn," Robert Penn Warren offers a reflective, almost cautionary meditation on death and mourning. The poem speaks to those who are left behind to grieve, advising them not to linger too long in their sorrow and to be wary of envying the dead. Through controlled language and a formal structure, Warren explores the fleeting nature of life, the inevitability of death, and the importance of accepting this natural cycle without becoming consumed by grief.

The opening line, "Now is the hour to rhyme a song for death," suggests that mourning has its own time and place, but it also emphasizes the need for brevity. The "facile song" implies that even though death can bring deep sorrow, it does not necessarily require grand or complex expressions of grief. This sets the tone for the poem, which reflects on the futility of being overly expressive or elaborate in mourning, particularly for someone who "death has taken." The mention of "proper eyes not even death can waken" underscores the sense that mourning is often ritualized, where outward appearances may mask the deeper anguish lying beneath.

As the speaker observes, "The house is empty now, the portals broken, / The tenant thief has fled," death has left a void, both physical and emotional. The metaphor of the "tenant thief" portrays death as something that steals life away, leaving behind a hollow space. The silence that follows—"no one there hears / The bells that once so silverly had spoken"—reinforces the absence of the dead and the finality of death.

Warren then shifts his focus to the mourners themselves, urging them to "prepare your faces now and so depart." This phrase suggests the need to present an outwardly composed appearance and move on with life. The mention of "the usual feet" bruising "the pavement stone" hints at the routine nature of mourning, where life continues even as people experience loss. The speaker encourages each mourner to "fix his hand upon his heart / And measure out the days of flesh and bone," a reminder that life is limited, and everyone must eventually face their own mortality. This acknowledgement of the brevity of life underscores the importance of not allowing grief to consume one's remaining time.

In the final quatrain, Warren advises the mourner not to dwell too long on the dead. The image of climbing "some hill about twilight" evokes the inevitable journey toward death that everyone must take alone. The warning to "think not long, dear sirs, upon the dead / Lest you, somehow, should envy him the night" is a powerful conclusion, suggesting that excessive mourning may lead to a dangerous desire to escape life altogether. This caution against envying the dead speaks to the poem's broader theme of accepting death as a natural part of life, rather than something to be feared or overly romanticized.

Through its formal structure and restrained language, "Admonition to Those Who Mourn" reflects on the complexities of grief, offering both a recognition of its inevitability and a warning against becoming trapped in sorrow. Warren suggests that while mourning is a natural and necessary part of the human experience, it is important not to lose sight of the fact that life, however fleeting, must continue. The poem's somber tone and subtle imagery create a powerful meditation on the balance between grief and acceptance, urging the reader to embrace the passage of time and the inevitability of death with grace and composure.

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