Reading Response for “Death of a Young Lady of Sixteen”

            “Death if a Young Lady of Sixteen” is a very powerful poem that addresses the sudden death of a young girl.  Mrs. L.G. Abell is very comparable to Emily Dickinson who was also writing at about this time.  Both of their poems have themes of death and religion, and both use unique forms of punctuation, particularly the dash.  Anyone that has lost a loved one in sudden death will be able to relate to this poem.

The poem begins with Abell stating that even the thought of the deceased young lady makes her cry (20).  The poet then laments the fact that she had seen the young girl very recently, and the girl had been lovely, healthy, and young.  She then explains that it is almost as if she can still see and hear the young girl as though she is still alive.  This leads the reader to the conclusion that the death must have been sudden and not the result of great illness.  The death of a younger person is hard to accept because most people view death as something that happens only to old, sick people.  This poem is a typical reaction that someone would have to such a death.

            The next stanza describes the young girl.  Abell says that the young girl had blue eyes that are “like azure sky of clear pure light above” (20).  Besides simply telling the color of her eyes, this line conveys the innocence of the young lady.  The girl is described as having been incredibly loving and immensely happy throughout her life, a fact that even her death cannot conceal (20).  This description causes the poet to reminisce about the last time she saw the young lady.  She saw her gently floating with the waves on the lake, presumably on a boat.  This leads the reader to question if drowning was the cause of death.  The description of this scene is almost ethereal.  The last line of the stanza tells how the poet had no idea that the girl was soon to die.  If people expect the death of another, they often go out of their way to say such things as, “I love you,” or “You mean so much to me.”  The poet seems very sad that she never got this opportunity.  Also, it is in this stanza that Abell uses the dash that Emily Dickinson is so famous for.

            The next stanzas discuss life and death and tell about the life of the young lady.  Abell expains the frailty of life by comparing it to a beautiful flower (20).  Here, it is important to keep the historical contexts of the poem in perspective.  During Victorian times, life may have seemed like a flower to the wealthy, but it seemed more like a thistle to the poor.  The next stanza describes the funeral, with the girl in her coffin and the sad mourners that surround her.  Abell says that entering the bedroom of the young lady and other places she frequented causes great pain.  She says that it is as if the teenager is still there in those places, which heightens the sense of sadness.  The next few lines are devoted to describing the young lady’s view of life.  To her, life seemed long and happy.  Her only sadness was that which she felt for others.  She had a great childhood. 

            A theme of Christianity is very dominant throughout the rest of the poem.  However, Abell address God in much a different way than Emily Dickinson did.  She is much more at ease with God rather than questioning God as Dickinson did.  Abell beings the next stanza by saying that if the young lady loved God, the “light” then was put out here on earth now shines in heaven, and that the young lady’s “mysterious spark of mind” now “flames amid the seraph band” in heaven as well.  In this stanza, Abell uses quotation marks where the usually would not be used, much like Dickinson might have.  Abell also explains that although we live in a world “full of tombs,” we forget that death may head our direction (20).  She also says that we put all of our hopes and dreams into things we do wish to do here on earth.  However, as a Christian, one should put all hopes and dreams in heaven.  She ends the stanza by stating that, though we may have forgotten death, he has not forgotten us.  The last two stanzas are strongly Christian as well.   Abell advises people to remember that our life on earth is a temporary trial, but heaven is where we stay for all eternity (20).  She also describes our earthly life as a chain that links its “pleasure or its pain” to our eternal life.  She says that, while on earth, we can “walk safely” with Jesus as our guide.  He can teach us things through the Bible and comfort us when we are sad.  Abell ends her poem by saying that Jesus makes death is easier for Christians by giving them eternal life in heaven.

            In conclusion, “Death of a Young Lady of Sixteen” discusses the death of a young girl, which is not an easy thing for anyone to discuss.  Because most people have experienced the sudden death of a loved one, almost everyone will be able to relate to this poem.  Like Dickinson, Abell uses dashes and other unusual means of punctuation, such as quotation marks and dashes, throughout her poem.  She and Dickinson also share common themes of death and religion in their poetry as well.  It is a shame that not much is said about Abell, especially considering the great beauty of this poem.

--Amanda Kyker

28 September 2005

Works Cited