Afterwards Unburied Death Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1 Special Collection Library, Duke University Unburied Death 1848 Draft manuscript Duke University Library XXI. Eighteen Sonnets unlined white notebook paper none 6 3/8 x 8 1/8 inches Commentary
Introduction

The title in this manuscript is DGR's, given in 1848. When WMR came to publish the poem after DGR's death, he changed it to “Afterwards”, a most revealing alteration given the associations that must surround the original title.

Textual History: Composition

Textual History: Revision

Production History

Reception History

Iconographic

Printing History

Pictorial

Historical

Literary

Translation

Autobiographical

Bibliographic

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Unburied Death. “17.” is written before the title, to indicate the poem's number in the sonnet sequence. In addition, beside the title lies a plus sign written in ink. A final note at the bottom records that the sonnet was completed in 7 minutes. --- She opened her moist crimson lips to sing; And from her throat that is so white and full The notes leaped like a fountain. A smooth lull Was o'er my heart: as when a viol-string Having been broken, and the first musical ring Once over, – all the rest is but a dull Crude dissonanceEcholess jar, howe'er thou twist and pull The sundered fragments. A most weary thing It is within the perished heart to seek Pain, and not find it; but a sort of pall Like sleep upon the mind. A cold set plan Of life then comes; and grief that is not weak Because it hath no tears. Say, can'st thou call This life a life, friend, or this man a man. ===

G 7 m.