[5] 1830. Through.
[6] A coronach is a funeral song or lamentation, from the Gaelic Corranach. Cf. Scott’s Waverley, ch. xv., “Their wives and daughters came clapping their hands and crying the coronach and shrieking”.
[7] 1830 till 1851. Through.
A Dirge
First printed in 1830.
1
Now is done thy long day’s work;
Fold thy palms across thy breast,
Fold thine arms, turn to thy rest.
Let them rave.
Shadows of the silver birk[[1]]
Sweep the green that folds thy grave.
Let them rave.
2
Thee nor carketh[[2]] care nor slander;
Nothing but the small cold worm
Fretteth thine enshrouded form.
Let them rave.
Light and shadow ever wander
O’er the green that folds thy grave.
Let them rave.
3