When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd : Summary

Summary

Background

Walt Whitman’s poem “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” was written in the context of an important moment in American history. In April 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. At that time, the nation, just emerging from the Civil War, was deeply wounded, divided, and grief-stricken. Lincoln’s death stunned the entire country. Whitman, who was deeply inspired by Lincoln’s leadership and humanistic spirit, felt this tragedy as both a personal and national grief.

In this context, he composed “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d”, written in 1865 and first published in the volume Sequel to Drum-Taps. It is a long elegy in which the poet expresses his mourning through springtime nature, the symbolic lilac flower, the fallen star, and the song of a solitary thrush. The journey of Lincoln’s coffin across different states of America becomes a central metaphor for the nation’s collective mourning.

The poem is not only a tribute to Lincoln but also a spiritual reflection on accepting death. Whitman shows that death is an inseparable part of the cycle of nature and, in a sense, a form of release. Thus, “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” is not merely a political or historical poem, but a profoundly human elegy in which personal grief, national sorrow, and the eternal cycle of nature merge together. Even today, it is regarded as one of the greatest elegies in American literature.

 Summary

Stanza 1 – The Beginning of Grief: The poet sees lilac flowers blooming at the start of spring. At the same time, he sees a bright star fading in the western sky. This sight fills him with deep sorrow, as it reminds him of the death of his beloved leader, Abraham Lincoln. The poet realizes that this grief will return every spring. Three symbols always rise in his mind in spring: the ever-blooming lilac flower, the fallen western star, and his love and memory for Lincoln.

Stanza 2 – Lament for the Fallen Star: The poet directly addresses the fallen star in the western sky. He laments that the dark night has covered the star. Here, the fallen star is actually a symbol of Abraham Lincoln. To the poet, his death creates a dreadful emptiness. He feels that cruel fate has made him helpless. The black clouds around seem to imprison his soul. He cannot escape; only sorrow and tears surround him.

Stanza 3 – The Symbol of the Lilac: The poet describes a lilac tree standing in front of an old farmhouse door. The tree is full of green, heart-shaped leaves and adorned with beautiful purple flowers. Its fragrance is very dear to the poet. Each leaf and flower appears to him like a wonder. The poet breaks a branch from this tree. This lilac branch becomes a symbol of his love and a tribute to Abraham Lincoln. Through it, he expresses his grief and memory for the fallen leader.

Stanza 4 – The Song of the Hermit Thrush: The poet hears the song of a bird hidden in a lonely swamp. This bird is the hermit thrush. It lives alone, avoiding human settlements. From its voice flows a song of deep sorrow. The poet interprets this as a song of death. It seems like a path to release from life’s bleeding wounds. Although the poet grieves over the death of Abraham Lincoln, the bird’s song teaches him that death is not the end, but the beginning of another form of life.

Stanza 5 – The Journey of the Coffin: Across the spring-filled land, a coffin continues its journey. It moves through cities, villages, lanes, and old forests. Along the way, the poet notices purple flowers, green grasses, golden wheat, and apple trees with white and pink blossoms. Nature is alive with beauty and vitality all around, yet the coffin carries the sorrow of death. In this endless journey, day and night, lies his beloved leader, Abraham Lincoln. His body is being carried across the whole country to its final resting place.

Stanza 6 – The Nation’s Funeral Procession: The coffin continues through the streets and alleys of the cities. Day and night, the sky remains covered with mourning black clouds. The cities are draped in black cloth, and flags hang lowered in grief. Around the coffin, there is a long procession; in the darkness of night, countless torches burn. Thousands of people stand with bowed heads, their silent faces expressing their grief. At the railway stations, the coffin is lowered, in churches, funeral music is played, and bells toll repeatedly. All of America seems wrapped in mourning. In the midst of this procession, the poet places a sprig of lilac upon Lincoln’s coffin as an offering of respect.

Stanza 7 – Dedication to Death: The poet says that he offers lilac flowers not only for one coffin, but for all coffins. Here, the coffin symbolizes not just his beloved leader, Abraham Lincoln, but all those who died in the Civil War. The poet does not see death as something to fear; instead, he calls it “sacred and calm.” He brings floral gifts for death—roses, lilies, and above all, lilacs. He breaks handfuls of flowers and scatters them upon the grief of death with love and reverence. This shows that for him, death is an eternal truth, and flowers are the symbol of accepting that truth.

Stanza 8 – Dialogue with the Fallen Star: The poet addresses the bright star in the western sky (symbol of Lincoln). He recalls how, for a month, he had watched that star night after night. It seemed as if it wanted to speak to him. Other stars looked on from afar, but this one star kept leaning toward him again and again. The poet feels that deep sorrow is hidden in that star. Standing in the cold night air, he watches the star sink into the western horizon. As it disappears, his heart sinks into grief as well. The fading of the star means accepting the reality of Lincoln’s death, the farewell of a great man from the world.

Stanza 9 – Response to the Bird’s Call: The poet turns his attention once again to the lonely hermit thrush in the swamp. He listens to its gentle and shy song. The poet says, “I hear your song, I understand, I will come to you.” Yet he delays for a while, because his gaze is still fixed upon the bright star in the western sky. That star is the symbol of his beloved companion, Abraham Lincoln, holding his mind with grief and longing. Thus, even though the poet hears the bird’s call, he cannot fully turn toward the lesson of death and its peace just yet.

Stanza 10 – Dedication to the Beloved Leader’s Grave: The poet wonders how he will sing for his beloved one whom he has lost. How will he compose his elegy for that great soul? And what fragrance will be the gift for Abraham Lincoln’s grave? He finds the answer: the fragrance will be the sea winds. The breezes flowing from the eastern and western seas will unite across the land. Those winds, mingling with the song of his poetry, will forever perfume Lincoln’s grave. In this way, the poet combines nature and song as his tribute of mourning and love.

Stanza 11 – Decorations for the Tomb: The poet thinks about what he will hang upon the walls of the tomb of his beloved leader, Abraham Lincoln. What images will decorate this house of memory? He decides that the pictures will come from the scenes of nature and life. There will be images of spring, of farmhouses, and of human homes. There will be April evenings, sunsets painted in golden hues, and coils of smoke rising into the sky. There will be green grass, trees full of young leaves, rivers glittering in the sun, and outlines of mountains. The bustle of the city, factories, and laborers returning home after work will also be included. In this way, the poet shows that Lincoln’s death is not the loss of one person alone, but something connected to the whole of nature, the nation, and the life of its people.

Stanza 12 – The Grandeur of the Nation and Nature: The poet unites body and soul to envision the entire country. He imagines Manhattan’s tall towers, the busy ships, and the ebb and flow of the rivers. He sees the banks of the Ohio River, the glittering waters of the Missouri River, and the vast prairies filled with grass and fields of corn. Then he describes the journey of the sun: the calm yet glorious sunrise, the mornings tinted with purple hues, the bright and boundless noons, and the gentle evenings. Finally, night arrives peacefully, as the stars light up the sky and embrace the entire land. In this way, the poet shows that Abraham Lincoln is not only a man, but also eternally connected to America’s nature, its light, its sky, and the lives of its people.

Stanza 13 – The Song of Consolation in Mourning: The poet once again addresses the thrush with its gray-brown feathers. From within the swamps and thickets, it sings continuously. This song rises from the depths of darkness and nature, boundless and eternal. The poet calls the bird his “dear brother” and feels that its voice is like a human one, filled with deep sorrow. The song is tender, free, and wild, and it touches the poet’s soul. He hears only this bird’s song, even though the western star (the symbol of Lincoln) still pulls at his heart, and the fragrance of lilacs surrounds him. Thus, the three symbols—the lilac, the star, and the bird’s song—together express both the poet’s grief and his consolation.

Stanza 14 – The Majesty and Consolation of Death: The poet looks at the spring fields, the farmer at his work, the lakes and rivers, the forests, the voices of children and women, the bustle of cities, and the beauty of nature. Yet suddenly, among all this, a black cloud appears—the symbol of death. Then the poet feels that death is everywhere present, a sacred wisdom. He imagines death walking at one side of him, and the thought of death at the other, with himself standing in the middle. In this way, death becomes his constant companion.

In the silence of the night, along the dark paths of the swamp, among cedar and pine trees, he encounters the thrush once again. This time, the bird sings a majestic song—“the song of death.” The song fills the poet with deep emotion. He realizes that death is not something to fear, but a gentle comfort and release.

The poet addresses death, calling it “dear mother” and “powerful deliveress.” He accepts death not as a curse, but as a majestic force. He says that when death comes, one must welcome it with joy and reverence. Death frees humanity from sorrow and grants eternal peace. Finally, the poet lets the song flow over all of nature—the cities, villages, seas, fields, and the night sky. This becomes a hymn to death, leading the poet from mourning into consolation and release.

Stanza 15 – Scenes of War and Death: The thrush fills the night with its clear and powerful song. The poet stands with his companions—the lilac and the star—listening. As he listens, a grand vision rises before his eyes. He sees the terrifying scenes of the Civil War. Through the smoke, hundreds of battle flags are torn and tattered, pierced with bullets and wounds. In the end, only ragged fragments remain, hanging from broken poles. He sees countless corpses on the battlefield, the skeletons of young soldiers, a landscape piled with death and destruction. Yet suddenly the poet realizes that the dead soldiers no longer suffer. They rest in peace. It is the living who bear the pain—mothers, wives, children, and surviving friends carry grief in their hearts. Even though the war is over, their sorrow remains. Thus, the poet suggests that while death brings peace, eternal anguish lingers in the hearts of the living.

Stanza 16 – Farewell and Conclusion: Gradually, the poet moves beyond all visions and the night’s experiences. He releases the hands of his companions, bidding farewell to the song of the thrush and to the music of his own soul. This song was the song of death—sometimes a dirge of sorrow, sometimes a hymn of joy. Rising and falling, its notes filled the entire world and sky. At last, the poet returns once more to the lilac flower. He leaves it in the dooryard, so that it will bloom again every spring. Then he gazes at the bright, sorrowful star in the western sky, the symbol of his beloved leader, Abraham Lincoln. Finally, the poet remembers the three symbols—the lilac flower, the western star, and the song of the thrush. Together, these symbols preserve the memory of Lincoln. The poet declares that Lincoln will live forever in his heart: “For the sweetest, wisest soul of all my days and lands—and this for his dear sake.”