Elegy

The Martyr BY HERMAN MELVILLE Indicative of the passion of the people on the 15th of April, 1865 Good Friday was the day Of the prodigy and crime, When they killed him in his pity, When they killed him in his prime Of clemency and calm— When with yearning he was filled To redeem the evil-willed, And, though conqueror, be kind; But they killed him in his kindness, In their madness and their blindness, And they killed him from behind. There is sobbing of the strong, And a pall upon the land; But the People in their weeping Bare the iron hand: Beware the People weeping When they bare the iron hand. He lieth in his blood— The father in his face; They have killed him, the Forgiver— The Avenger takes his place, The Avenger wisely stern, Who in righteousness shall do What heavens call him to, And the parricides remand; For they killed him in his kindness, In their madness and their blindness. And his blood is on their hand. There is sobbing of the strong, And a pall upon the land; But the People in their weeping Bare the iron hand: Beware the People weeping When they bare the iron hand. Barrett, Faith. Words for the Hour. Massachusetts, 2005. Print. Elegies involving someone being killed are usually very emotion filled. In the beginning of this poem he states that they killed him "in his pity" and "in his prime" so there is an obvious tone of grievance which is essential in a elegy. When Herman refers to his loved one as a prodigy and speaks of his kindness, that expresses admiration, which is another necessary characteristic of a elegy. Elegies are usually finished off with consolation, and the most universal way of consolidation of the loss of a loved one is crying. He expresses that there is "sobbing of the strong," which leads to comfort. But since his loved one was killed, he still has a vengeance, hence the iron hand.