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Poem
October 21, 1826
The Ladies' Garland
Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
Elegy by Mrs. Hemans on the grave of Korner, a poet and soldier buried under an oak, and his sister who died of grief beside him. It honors their bond, his heroism with lyre and sword, and her faithful love in death.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE GRAVE OF KORNER.
BY MRS. HEMANS.
Green wave the oak forever o'er thy rest!
Thou that beneath its crowning foliage sleepest,
And in the stillness of thy country's breast,
Thy place of memory, as an altar, keepest!
Brightly thy spirit o'er her hills was poured,
Thou of the lyre and sword!
Rest, bard! Rest, soldier! By the father's hand
Here shall the child of after years be led,
With his wreath offering silently to stand
In the hushed presence of the glorious dead,
Soldier and bard! For thou thy path hast trod
With freedom and with God!
The oak waved proudly o'er thy burial rite:
On the crowned bier to slumber, warriors bore thee,
And with true hearts, thy brethren of the fight
Wept as they veiled their drooping banners o'er thee;
And the deep guns with rolling peal gave token
That the lyre and sword were broken
Thou hast a hero's tomb! A lowlier bed
Is hers, the gentle girl, beside thee lying:
The gentle girl, that bowed her fair young head,
When thou wert gone, in silent sorrow dying.
Brother! true friend! the tender and the brave
She pined to share thy grave.
Fame was thy gift from others—but for her,
To whom the wide earth held that only spot—
She loved thee—lovely in your lives ye were,
And in your early deaths divided not!
Thou hast thy oak, thy trophy—what hath she?
Her own blest place by thee:
It was thy spirit, brother! which hath made
The bright world glorious to her thoughtful eye.
Since first in childhood 'midst the vines ye played,
And sent glad singing through the free blue sky:
Ye were but two! and when thy spirit passed,
Wo for the one—the last!
Wo, yet not long! she lingered but to trace
Thine image from the image in her breast;
Once more again to see that buried face
But smile upon her ere she went to rest!
Too sad a smile! its living light was o'er—
It answered hers no more!
The earth grew silent when thy voice departed
The home too lonely whence thy steps had fled:
What then was left for her, the faithful-hearted?
Death, death, to still the yearning for the dead:
Softly she perished—be the flower deplored,
Here, with the Lyre and Sword!
Have ye not met ere now? So let those trust,
That meet for moments, but to part for years;
That weep, watch, pray, to hold back dust from dust;
That love where love is but a fount of tears!
Brother! sweet Sister! peace around ye dwell:
Lyre, Sword and Flower, farewell!
BY MRS. HEMANS.
Green wave the oak forever o'er thy rest!
Thou that beneath its crowning foliage sleepest,
And in the stillness of thy country's breast,
Thy place of memory, as an altar, keepest!
Brightly thy spirit o'er her hills was poured,
Thou of the lyre and sword!
Rest, bard! Rest, soldier! By the father's hand
Here shall the child of after years be led,
With his wreath offering silently to stand
In the hushed presence of the glorious dead,
Soldier and bard! For thou thy path hast trod
With freedom and with God!
The oak waved proudly o'er thy burial rite:
On the crowned bier to slumber, warriors bore thee,
And with true hearts, thy brethren of the fight
Wept as they veiled their drooping banners o'er thee;
And the deep guns with rolling peal gave token
That the lyre and sword were broken
Thou hast a hero's tomb! A lowlier bed
Is hers, the gentle girl, beside thee lying:
The gentle girl, that bowed her fair young head,
When thou wert gone, in silent sorrow dying.
Brother! true friend! the tender and the brave
She pined to share thy grave.
Fame was thy gift from others—but for her,
To whom the wide earth held that only spot—
She loved thee—lovely in your lives ye were,
And in your early deaths divided not!
Thou hast thy oak, thy trophy—what hath she?
Her own blest place by thee:
It was thy spirit, brother! which hath made
The bright world glorious to her thoughtful eye.
Since first in childhood 'midst the vines ye played,
And sent glad singing through the free blue sky:
Ye were but two! and when thy spirit passed,
Wo for the one—the last!
Wo, yet not long! she lingered but to trace
Thine image from the image in her breast;
Once more again to see that buried face
But smile upon her ere she went to rest!
Too sad a smile! its living light was o'er—
It answered hers no more!
The earth grew silent when thy voice departed
The home too lonely whence thy steps had fled:
What then was left for her, the faithful-hearted?
Death, death, to still the yearning for the dead:
Softly she perished—be the flower deplored,
Here, with the Lyre and Sword!
Have ye not met ere now? So let those trust,
That meet for moments, but to part for years;
That weep, watch, pray, to hold back dust from dust;
That love where love is but a fount of tears!
Brother! sweet Sister! peace around ye dwell:
Lyre, Sword and Flower, farewell!
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
War Military
Liberty Independence
What keywords are associated?
Grave Of Korner
Mrs Hemans
Lyre And Sword
Sister Grief
Warrior Poet
Freedom God
Hero Tomb
What entities or persons were involved?
By Mrs. Hemans.
Poem Details
Title
The Grave Of Korner.
Author
By Mrs. Hemans.
Subject
The Grave Of Korner
Key Lines
Green Wave The Oak Forever O'er Thy Rest!
Rest, Bard! Rest, Soldier! By The Father's Hand
Thou Hast A Hero's Tomb! A Lowlier Bed Is Hers, The Gentle Girl, Beside Thee Lying:
She Loved Thee—Lovely In Your Lives Ye Were, And In Your Early Deaths Divided Not!
Lyre, Sword And Flower, Farewell!