Mortality and Loss

Where it surfaces

• Reminiscences

  The poem dwells on the death of General Brock and the grief of the people, as well as the destruction of his original tomb.

• Fight of a Buffalo with Wolves

  The buffalo's death and the image of his bones whitening on the plain underscore themes of mortality and the tragic loss of a noble creature.

• Disaster to Steamer Victoria at London

  The poem vividly depicts the sudden transition from joy to tragedy, with the steamer sinking and leaving only 'lifeless clay,' emphasizing the theme of mortality and the sorrow of loss.

• Niagara's Charms and Death of Capt. Webb

  Captain Webb's death in the whirlpool serves as a stark reminder of human mortality and the perilous consequences of challenging nature's might.

• Lines on T. D. McGee

  The poem ends with a lament for McGee's untimely death, emphasizing the loss of a promising figure.

• London Flood

  The flood caused death and mourning, exemplified by a mother losing her infant and a family burying three members in two funerals.

• The Great Fire of Ingersoll

  The fire brings woe and destruction to the once fair town, evoking a sense of loss and the fragility of human settlements.

• Adventure on a Raft

  The near-death experience and the man's lifeless state highlight the fragility of life and the constant threat of death in frontier life.

• A Providential Escape

  The poem vividly describes the peril of death by drowning and the community's fear of losing the child.

• Departed Statesmen

  Reflects on the deaths of prominent political leaders, contrasting their past struggles with the ongoing political life of the living.

• In Memoriam

  The poem directly addresses the death of the author's son and the mother's prior death, emphasizing grief and the hope of reunion in heaven.

• George Menzies' Poems

  All three poets have passed away, and the poet Menzies' life was brief and filled with grief.

• Wars in Queen Victoria’s Reign

  References to slaughter, loss of brave Havelock, and deadly scars highlight the cost of war.

• Shelly

  The poem focuses on Shelley's untimely death and cremation, emphasizing the tragedy of a gifted life cut short.

• Northwest Rebellion

  The poem laments the youth who died or were maimed in the conflict, emphasizing the cost of war.

• Big Bear the Indian Chief

  The poem laments the deaths at Frog Lake and the suffering of captives.

• Fighting for Conquest

  The poem emphasizes the death of brave men and the enduring grief of families, particularly widows and orphans.

• Eagle and Salmon

  Both the eagle and the salmon die as a direct result of the encounter, illustrating the harsh realities of nature.

• Captain's Adventure

  The owl's death and the captain's grief reflect themes of loss and remembrance.

• Indian Romance

  Chief Big Wolfe's death from fire water and the dimming of Morning Star's light underscore themes of loss and tragedy.

• Bear and Falls

  The imminent danger of being swept over the falls or killed by the bear underscores the constant threat of death in the wilderness.

• Broken Raft Adventure

  The man faces imminent death on the open sea, believing the gulf will be his grave, and is found lifeless before being revived.

• Hunters and Trappers

  Grant's violent death and the grief of his wife underscore the ever-present threat of loss in frontier life.

• Wild Goose Shot at Midnight

  The poem touches on the loss of the goose and the hunter's regret, underscoring the theme of death in the context of survival.

• Queen’s Jubilee Ode

  Acknowledges Queen Victoria's widowhood after the death of Prince Albert, reflecting on personal grief within a public celebration.

• Gordon and Burnaby

  The poem recounts the deaths of Gordon and Burnaby, emphasizing the tragic loss of brave men in war.

• Highland Sketches

  Descriptions of battlefields strewn with dead and the blood-soaked heather at Culloden underscore the cost of conflict.

• Caledonia Springs, New York

  The reference to an ancient burial ground and the quiet rest of those who once 'trod the heather' evokes themes of mortality and the passage of time.

• Brain Engravings

  The poem contrasts suffering and delight, memories of parting with old friends, and the dark despair etched in the brain.

• The Gates Ajar

  The poem centers on the death of a beloved father and husband, exploring grief and the solace of faith in an afterlife.

• Child Made Happy

  The poem centers on Mary's impending death and the loss of her childhood, highlighting the fragility of life.

• Her Lover's Step

  The poem centers on the death of the husband and the wife's subsequent grief, culminating in her own death and spiritual reunion.

• Lines on the Death of a Farmer’s Wife

  The poem directly addresses the death of the farmer's wife and her transition to an afterlife.

• Bird Sent by Providence

  The landlord's heartlessness and the poor man's despair highlight themes of loss and the fragility of domestic security.

• Lines on the Finding of a Young Man's Body in Toronto Bay

  The poem centers on the discovery of a young man's body and the sorrow of his unknown identity, culminating in the father's grief and gratitude.

• The Good Man

  The good man's death and the world's indifference to his passing highlight themes of mortality and unremembered loss.

• Strange Life Preserver

  The sailor's near-death experience and the killing of the albatross highlight the fragility of life and the cost of survival.

• Virtues of a Diamond Ring

  The warrior's apparent death and the servant's grief highlight the ever-present threat of loss, while the revival offers a counterpoint to mortality.

• Child Saved by Dog

  The dog's sacrificial death and the mother's fear of losing her child underscore themes of mortality and the pain of loss.

• Lost Son Found

  The shipwreck and the mother's grief over her lost son highlight the ever-present threat of death and the pain of separation.

• Shoe Black

  The poem centers on the death of a child and the loss of his mother, exploring themes of grief and the afterlife.

• Baby Darling

  The miner's separation from his family evokes a sense of loss and the fleeting nature of life's joys.

• Great Fire in Michigan

  The poem mourns the death of loved ones and the destruction of property, emphasizing grief and the fragility of life in the face of disaster.

• Big Stag

  The speaker fears the stag's eventual death at the hands of a pot-hunter, highlighting the sorrow of loss in nature.

• Eagle and Stag

  The eagle's predatory attack and the stag's fight for survival highlight themes of life, death, and the constant threat of mortality in nature.

• Murder of a Young Englishman

  The poem focuses on the tragic death of young Benwell and the execution of his murderer.

• Decoration Day

  The poem focuses on honoring deceased soldiers, transforming graves from places of gloom to scenes of remembrance and bloom.

• The Rescue

  The poem centers on the death and near-loss of a child, the father's grief, and the terror of grave robbing.

• Lady Ann

  Lady Ann's near-drowning and Carlock's suicide highlight themes of death and survival.

• Indian Wars

  The death of the kitten, mistaken for the baby, underscores the ever-present threat of violence and loss in the frontier environment.

• The Flood on the Creek

  The loss of the warehouse and stock represents a significant personal and economic loss, akin to a small death of livelihood.

• Death of Parnell

  The poem commemorates the death of a national leader, reflecting on loss and the end of a political era.