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Elegy

This Page Includes: Full Verses of the Poem in Text. A Recording of the Poem (Audio). A Free PDF Download for reading purposes. Free Editable Google Doc Download if you wish to make changes or to personalise the poem. The page also includes what the poem is about, structure of poem and explaining the best parts.

Elegy Poem Verses

O snatch'd away in beauty's bloom!
On thee shall press no ponderous tomb;
But on thy turf shall roses rear
Their leaves, the earliest of the year,
And the wild cypress wave in tender gloom:

And oft by yon blue gushing stream
Shall Sorrow lean her drooping head,
And feed deep thought with many a dream,
And lingering pause and lightly tread;
Fond wretch! as if her step disturb'd the dead!

Away! we know that tears are vain,
That Death nor heeds nor hears distress:
Will this unteach us to complain?
Or make one mourner weep the less?
And thou, who tell'st me to forget,
Thy looks are wan, thine eyes are wet.

Audio Recording

Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as 'Elegy' can be tailored/personalised

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Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as 'Elegy' can be tailored/personalised

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Personalised Poem

Would you like to customise this poem? You have the option to personalise it by accessing the provided link, which will direct you to Google Docs. From there, you can download the poem ‘Memories’ to your personal Google Docs account or Microsoft Word where you will be able to edit the poem however you want.

Personalised Poem

About the poem

The poem is about the loss of a beautiful young person and the speaker's grief over their death. The speaker reflects on the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. They describe the deceased as not being buried in a heavy tomb but instead, surrounded by nature. The speaker also questions whether mourning and shedding tears are helpful or not, and whether forgetting the deceased would make the mourning process any easier. The last line of the poem suggests that the person who is telling the speaker to forget is also grieving and affected by the loss.

The Structure of Poem

The poem consists of two stanzas with six lines each. The first stanza describes the way in which the speaker's beloved will be mourned, with no tomb but rather flowers and the waving of cypress trees. The second stanza challenges the idea that tears and mourning are futile in the face of death, and criticizes those who tell the speaker to forget their loved one. The poem features a consistent rhyme scheme and employs natural imagery to evoke a sense of melancholy and loss.

Best Quote from Elegy Poem

This is a quote from the poem Elegy by Lord Byron

"O snatch'd away in beauty's bloom! On thee shall press no ponderous tomb; But on thy turf shall roses rear Their leaves, the earliest of the year, And the wild cypress wave in tender gloom"

This quote from the poem captures the idea that even though a loved one may have been taken too soon, their memory can still be celebrated and honored. The speaker imagines a serene and peaceful resting place for the departed, where flowers bloom and nature provides comfort and solace. This quote can be used as a message of comfort and hope to those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, reminding them that even though their loved one is no longer with them, they can still honor their memory and find solace in nature. It can also serve as a tribute to the power and beauty of nature, which can provide comfort and healing in times of loss and sorrow.