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The Annotated Edition

THE TWO COFFINS by Eugene Field

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

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Two men lie side by side in an old cathedral — a mighty king and a humble singer.

Poet
Eugene Field
Themes
art, death, mortality
The PoemFull text

THE TWO COFFINS

Eugene Field

In yonder old cathedral Two lovely coffins lie; In one, the head of the state lies dead, And a singer sleeps hard by. Once had that King great power And proudly ruled the land-- His crown e'en now is on his brow And his sword is in his hand. How sweetly sleeps the singer With calmly folded eyes, And on the breast of the bard at rest The harp that he sounded lies. The castle walls are falling And war distracts the land, But the sword leaps not from that mildewed spot There in that dead king's hand. But with every grace of nature There seems to float along-- To cheer again the hearts of men The singer's deathless song.

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

Two men lie side by side in an old cathedral — a mighty king and a humble singer. The king's sword rusts as his kingdom falls apart, while the singer's melodies continue to soothe people long after he’s gone. The poem subtly suggests that art always outlives power.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. In yonder old cathedral / Two lovely coffins lie;

    Editor's note

    Field opens in an ancient cathedral, where two coffins rest side by side. Describing both coffins as "lovely" suggests that the king and the singer are equals right from the start — a subtle hint of the poem's direction.

  2. Once had that King great power / And proudly ruled the land--

    Editor's note

    The king is presented through the glory of his past: immense power, a proud reign, a crown still resting on his brow, a sword still in his hand. The word "once" carries significant weight here—it subtly signals that all of that is now over.

  3. How sweetly sleeps the singer / With calmly folded eyes,

    Editor's note

    The singer appears warmer and more peaceful compared to the king. While the king is associated with symbols of power like the crown and sword, the singer embodies calmness, with his harp resting on his chest—an image that represents harmony instead of dominance.

  4. The castle walls are falling / And war distracts the land,

    Editor's note

    Time has passed, and the kingdom is in turmoil. The sword that once symbolized the king's authority remains unchanged — it lies mildewed and useless. Field illustrates that power has an expiration date.

  5. But with every grace of nature / There seems to float along--

    Editor's note

    The final stanza captures the essence of the poem: the singer's songs flow through the world effortlessly, like a natural force, continually uplifting the hearts of those alive. The king's legacy amounts to rust and ruins, while the singer's legacy is a joy that constantly replenishes itself.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is calm and reflective — Field doesn’t express anger towards the king or enthusiasm for the singer. He looks at both men with the same quiet, almost affectionate gaze, allowing the contrast to stand on its own. There's a quiet satisfaction in the final stanza, the sort of feeling one gets when a long-held belief is confirmed.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The sword
The king's sword symbolizes political and military power. By the end of the poem, it is mildewed and still — a vivid representation of how earthly might deteriorates and loses its significance.
The harp
The harp on the singer's chest symbolizes art and creativity. Unlike the sword, it’s never mentioned as rusting or failing — its music continues to resonate in the living world.
The cathedral
The cathedral stands as a symbol of permanence and remembrance. By placing both coffins there, the king and the singer are positioned as equals in death, highlighting the stark contrast between them even more.
The crown
Still resting on the dead king's brow, the crown is nothing more than an empty trophy. It signifies rank but gives nothing in return — the kingdom it once ruled is already crumbling around it.
The deathless song
The singer's song drifting through the world serves as the poem's main symbol of immortality. It's portrayed as something natural — akin to weather or light — implying that remarkable art can thrive without the support of institutions or armies.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Eugene Field wrote this poem in the late nineteenth century, a time when American writers were engaged in discussions about the social value of art compared to political and economic power. Field was a newspaper columnist and poet known for his sentimental verse, and he had a deep appreciation for artists and musicians who created away from the public eye. This poem fits into the long Western tradition of *ubi sunt* — reflections on the fates of great figures from the past — but Field adds a democratic spin: the singer buried next to the king isn’t a famous composer or laureate, but simply a bard with a harp. The imagery of crumbling castle walls also reflects the Romantic-era interest in ruins as evidence that no empire endures, a concept Field likely picked up from poets like Shelley and Keats.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

The poem makes the case that art endures beyond power. While the king's kingdom crumbles and his sword gathers rust, the singer's songs continue to resonate and uplift people. Field's message is clear and straightforward: creative work lasts longer than political authority.

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