Prayer unsaid, and Mass unsung, Deadman's dirge must still be rung: Dingle-dong, the dead-bells sound! Mermen chant his dirge around! Wash him bloodless, smooth him fair, Stretch his limbs, and sleek his hair: Dingle-dong, the dead-bells go! Mermen swing them to and fro! In the wormless sand shall he Feast for no foul glutton be: Dingle-dong, the dead-bells chime! Mermen keep the tone and time! We must with a tombstone brave Shut the shark out from his grave: Dingle-dong, the dead-bells toll! Mermen dirgers ring his knoll! Such a slab will we lay o'er him, All the dead shall rise before him: Dingle-dong, the dead-bells boom! Mermen lay him in his tomb! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MOUNTAINEER AND POET by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING DARWINISM by AGNES MARY F. ROBINSON HARVARD DECLARES WAR by BRENT DOW ALLINSON CONSTANTINOPLE by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD CONCLUDING VERSES, AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM AN AUTUMNAL MORNING WALK by BERNARD BARTON |