The Trapper died—our hero—and we grieved;
In every heart in camp the sorrow stirred.
"His soul was red!" the Indian cried, bereaved;
"A white man, he!" the grim old Yankee's word.
So, brief and strong, each mourner gave his best—
How. kind he was, how brave, how keen to track;
And as we laid him by the pines to rest,
A negro spoke, with tears: "His heart was black!"
I am busy working to bring John Boyle O'Reilly's "A Dead Man" to life through some unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you later.
In the meantime, I invite you to explore the poem's themes, structure, and meaning. You can also check out the gallery for other musical arrangements or learn more about John Boyle O'Reilly's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "A Dead Man" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.