 > Funeral Poems > Hester

Hester

Author: Charles Lamb

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.

Hester Poem Verses

When maidens such as Hester die
Their place ye may not well supply,
Though ye among a thousand try
With vain endeavour.
A month or more hath she been dead,
Yet cannot I by force be led
To think upon the wormy bed
And her together.
A springy motion in her gait,
A rising step, did indicate
Of pride and joy no common rate,
That flush'd her spirit:
I know not by what name beside
I shall it call: if 'twas not pride,
It was a joy to that allied,
She did inherit.
Her parents held the Quaker rule
Which doth the human feeling cool;
But she was train'd in Nature's school;
Nature had blest her.
A waking eye, a prying mind;
A heart that stirs, is hard to bind;
A hawk's keen sight ye cannot blind;
Ye could not Hester.
My sprightly neighbour! gone before
To that unknown and silent shore,
Shall we not meet, as heretofore
Some summer morning
When from thy cheerful eyes a ray
Hath struck a bliss upon the day,
A bliss that would not go away,
A sweet fore-warning?

Audio Recording

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

Download Poem

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

Donwload As PDF

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 a funeral elegy for a young woman named Hester who has recently died. The speaker mourns Hester's passing and expresses how difficult it is to find someone who can replace her in his heart. He describes her lively and joyful spirit, her natural intelligence and curiosity, and her upbringing in a Quaker family. Despite her parents' strict religious beliefs, Hester's natural disposition and spirit could not be tamed. The speaker expresses his hope to meet Hester again in the afterlife and reminisces about the happiness she brought to his life.

The Structure of Poem

The poem "When Maidens Such as Hester Die" by Charles Lamb is written in four stanzas of varying length. The first two stanzas are quatrains with an ABAB rhyme scheme, while the third and fourth stanzas are sestets with a varied rhyme scheme. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, meaning each line consists of four iambs (an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable). The poem is a tribute to a woman named Hester who has recently died, and the speaker reflects on her character and personality.

Best Quote from Hester Poem

This is a quote from the poem Hester by Charles Lamb

"When maidens such as Hester die Their place ye may not well supply, Though ye among a thousand try With vain endeavour."

This quote captures the essence of the poem's theme, which is the loss of a unique and irreplaceable individual. It highlights the idea that certain people are so special that they cannot be replaced, no matter how hard we try. The speaker acknowledges that Hester was one of these special individuals and that her loss is significant and deeply felt. The quote is a poignant reminder of the value of unique individuals and the importance of cherishing them while we have them.