Death & Dying
In darkness let me dwell, the ground shall sorrow be
From Lyrics from the Song-Books of the Elizabethan Age, ed. A. H. Bullen (London: Nimmo, 1891)
In darkness let me dwell, the ground shall sorrow be,
The roof despair to bar all cheerful light from me,
The walls of marble black that moistened still shall weep,
My music hellish jarring sounds to banish friendly sleep:
Thus wedded to my woes, and bedded in my tomb
O let me dying live till death doth come.
My dainties grief shall be, and tears my poisoned wine,
My sighs the air through which my panting heart shall pine,
My robes my mind shall suit exceeding blackest night,
My study shall be tragic thoughts sad fancy to delight,
Pale ghosts and frightful shades shall my acquaintance be:
O thus, my hapless joy, I haste to thee.
Codex Note
From John Coprario's Funeral Tears, etc., 1606.
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous (Elizabethan songs). “In darkness let me dwell, the ground shall sorrow be.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-elizabethan-songs/62/.
Chicago
Anonymous (Elizabethan songs). “In darkness let me dwell, the ground shall sorrow be.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-elizabethan-songs/62/.
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