Bridal Ballad

The ring is on my hand,
And the wreath is on my brow;
Satin 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 re-assure me,
And he kissed my pallid brow,
While a reverie came o'er me,
And to the church-yard 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 this the plighted vow,
And, though my faith be broken,
And, though my heart be broken,
Here is a ring, as token
That I am happy now!


Would 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.

I found this poem interesting first and foremost because it is from a woman's perspective. It amazes me that Edgar Allan Poe was able to achieve writing from another view throughout an entire poem. I also found the poem interesting because it takes an abrupt turn at the end. The beginning of this poem is all about a bride getting married, but then the last stanza completely changes and starts talking about death and evil. The irony and repetition used in this poem also strike me.

Literary Devices:

Alliteration: "And my lord he loves me well" (line 6), "In the battle down the dell" (line 11) 

lord-love, down-dell.

Anaphora: "And, though my faith be broken, And, though my heart be broken" (lines 22-23)

"Lest an evil step be taken,— Lest the dead who is forsaken" (lines 29-30) Repetition of the beginning of each line: "And, though" and "Lest"

Repetition: "I am happy now" lines 5, 12, 19, 25, 31. The repetition in this poem portrays the bride's tone and also emphasizes each stanza.