Mockery
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
1850 to 1919
Why do we grudge our sweets so to the living
Who, God knows, find at best too much of gall,
And then with generous, open hands kneel, giving
Unto the dead our all?
Why do we pierce the warm hearts, sin or sorrow,
With idle jests, or scorn, or cruel sneers,
And when it cannot know, on some to-morrow,
Speak of its woe through tears?
What do the dead care, for the tender token —
The love, the praise, the floral offerings?
But palpitating, living hearts are broken
For want of just these things.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox's Mockery
I am busy working to bring Ella Wheeler Wilcox's "Mockery" 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 Ella Wheeler Wilcox's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "Mockery" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.
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