A Pæan (Poem by Edgar Allan Poe)

A Pæan

By Edgar Allan Poe

(1)

How shall the burial rite be read?

The solemn song be sung?

The requiem for the loveliest dead,

That ever died so young?

(2)

Her friends are gazing on her,

And on her gaudy bier,

And weep! — oh! to dishonor

Dead beauty with a tear!

(3)

They loved her for her wealth — 

And they hated her for her pride — 

But she grew in feeble health,

And they love her — that she died.

(4)

They tell me (while they speak

Of her "costly broider'd pall")

That my voice is growing weak — 

That I should not sing at all — 

(5)

Or that my tone should be

Tun'd to such solemn song

So mournfully — so mournfully,

That the dead may feel no wrong.

(6)

But she is gone above,

With young Hope at her side,

And I am drunk with love

Of the dead, who is my bride. — 

(7)

Of the dead — dead who lies

All perfum'd there,

With the death upon her eyes.

And the life upon her hair.

(8)

Thus on the coffin loud and long

I strike — the murmur sent

Through the gray chambers to my song,

Shall be the accompaniment.

(9)

Thou diedst in thy life's June — 

But thou didst not die too fair:

Thou didst not die too soon,

Nor with too calm an air.

(10)

From more than friends on earth,

Thy life and love are riven,

To join the untainted mirth

Of more than thrones in heaven. — 

(11)

Therefore, to thee this night

I will no requiem raise,

But waft thee on thy flight,

With a Pæan of old days.

Poem Analysis:

Edgar Allan Poe, renowned for his mastery of the macabre and the melancholic, ventures into the realms of elegy and celebration in "A Pæan." This poem, a lament for a beautiful young woman's untimely death, explores themes of grief, societal expectations, and the transformative power of love. In this analysis, we will delve into the layers of Poe's poignant verses, deciphering the nuances of sorrow, beauty, and the transcendence of death.

1. Elegy for the Loveliest Dead: The opening stanzas pose a series of poignant questions about the burial rites for the loveliest dead. Poe sets the stage for a funeral dirge but immediately challenges conventional mourning practices. The paradox of mourning for the beautiful deceased with tears and dishonor adds complexity to the narrative, questioning societal norms surrounding grief and beauty.
2. The Complex Nature of Relationships: In the third stanza, Poe introduces a complex dynamic in the relationship between the deceased and her friends. The friends initially loved her for her wealth but hated her for her pride. The revelation that they now love her because she died adds a layer of irony and commentary on the fickle nature of human emotions, especially in the face of mortality.
3. The Duality of Mourning: Poe then addresses criticisms of his mourning, implying that the friends discourage his singing, fearing it may dishonor the dead. The poet contemplates altering his tone to suit a more mournful song, revealing the societal pressure to conform to expected expressions of grief.
4. Drunk with Love: The sixth stanza takes an unexpected turn as Poe declares his intoxication with love for the dead, who is his bride. This shift in tone adds a layer of romanticism and suggests a transcendence of death through love. The image of the deceased accompanied by young Hope evokes a sense of optimism amid the somber themes.
5. A Striking Pæan: The poet decides to strike the coffin "loud and long," turning the mourning into a celebration. The accompanying murmur through the gray chambers serves as the accompaniment to the unconventional Pæan, challenging traditional funeral rituals.
6. Untimely Death and Eternal Beauty: Stanzas nine and ten reflect on the untimely death of the young woman. Poe contends that she did not die too fair or too soon, highlighting the transient nature of earthly beauty and the inevitability of death. The notion of joining the "untainted mirth" in heaven introduces a celestial dimension, emphasizing the transformative journey beyond mortal constraints.
7. A Pæan of Old Days: In the final stanza, Poe expresses his decision not to raise a requiem but instead to send the deceased on her flight with a Pæan of old days. This unconventional choice reflects a celebration of the departed's life rather than a mournful lament, encapsulating Poe's unique perspective on death and the afterlife.

Edgar Allan Poe's "A Pæan" weaves a tapestry of grief, love, and celebration, challenging societal norms surrounding death and mourning. Through a lyrical exploration of the complexities of human emotions, Poe invites readers to reconsider conventional perspectives on beauty, loss, and the transformative power of love. The poem stands as a testament to Poe's ability to evoke a spectrum of emotions while defying expectations, leaving readers with a haunting and contemplative experience.