Bridal Ballad (Poem by Edgar Allan Poe)

Bridal Ballad

By Edgar Allan Poe

The ring is on my hand,

And the wreath is on my brow;

Satins and jewels grand

Are all at my command.

And I am happy now.

And my lord he loves me well;

But, when first he breathed his vow,

I felt my bosom swell — 

For the words rang as a knell,

And the voice seemed his who fell

In the battle down the dell,

And who is happy now.

But he spoke to reassure me,

And he kissed my pallid brow,

While a reverie came o'er me,

And to the churchyard bore me,

And I sighed to him before me,

Thinking him dead D'Elormie,

"Oh, I am happy now!"

And thus the words were spoken,

And thus the plighted vow,

And, though my faith be broken,

And, though my heart be broken,

Behold the golden keys

That proves me happy now!

Would to God I could awaken

For I dream I know not how,

And my soul is sorely shaken

Lest an evil step be taken, — 

Lest the dead who is forsaken

May not be happy now.

1845

Note:

"Bridal Ballad" is first discoverable in the Southern Literary Messenger for January 1837, and, in its present compressed and revised form, was reprinted in the Broadway Journal for August, 1845.

Poem Analysis:

Edgar Allan Poe, famous for his macabre and melancholic tales, presents "Bridal Ballad" as a haunting narrative poem that explores the complex emotions of love, fear, and the shadow of mortality. In this analysis, we will delve into the themes, symbolism, and the psychological depth that Poe infuses into this lyrical piece.

1. A False Sense of Happiness: The poem opens with a scene of apparent joy. The speaker, a bride, proudly dons her wedding attire, including the ring and the wreath. She is surrounded by opulence and luxury, and her husband loves her dearly. However, the happiness she professes is marred by an underlying unease. The initial verses seem to contrast her external joy with inner turmoil, foreshadowing the darker turn the poem will take.
2. The Echo of Death: The poem takes a chilling turn as the bride recalls the moment of her marriage vows. When her husband vowed his love, she felt her "bosom swell," but it was not with joy. Instead, it was as if she heard a death knell, and her husband's voice resembled that of someone who had fallen in battle. This imagery is striking, suggesting that her husband's words and voice are haunting her, reminding her of a grim fate.
3. The Churchyard Imagery: Poe introduces a powerful symbol - the churchyard. As the bride's reverie takes her there, it symbolizes death, decay, and the haunting of her thoughts. She imagines herself sighing to her husband, "Thinking him dead D'Elormie," a clear indication that she suspects her husband's demise, causing her distress. The juxtaposition of a wedding scene with the foreboding churchyard image is eerie and underscores the bride's inner turmoil.
4. Broken Faith and Heart: The poem highlights the bride's broken faith and broken heart, which stand in stark contrast to her outward appearance of happiness. She emphasizes the golden keys that prove her happy now. These keys may symbolize material wealth and status, but they cannot mend her emotional wounds or dispel her fears. The bride's insistence on her happiness is a facade, and the repetition of "happy now" takes on an increasingly ironic tone.
5. The Unsettling Conclusion: In the final stanzas, the bride's unease and anxiety intensify. She desperately wishes to awaken from her dream but fears taking an "evil step" that may lead to forsaking the dead. The poem concludes with the haunting idea that the dead, whoever D'Elormie may be, may not be happy. This final revelation adds a layer of complexity, leaving the reader to wonder about the bride's true understanding of her own happiness and the consequences of her choices.

"Bridal Ballad" by Edgar Allan Poe is a chilling exploration of the human psyche, delving into the complexities of love, fear, and the haunting specter of mortality. Through vivid imagery and a sense of foreboding, Poe creates a narrative that raises questions about the nature of happiness and the price one pays for denying or concealing one's innermost fears and doubts. The poem's unsettling conclusion lingers in the reader's mind, inviting reflection on the true meaning of happiness and the consequences of self-deception.