The croak of a raven hoar! br A dog's howl, kennel-tied! br Loud shuts the carriage-door: br The two are away on their ghastly ride br To Death's salt shore! br br Where are the love and the grace? br The bridegroom is thirsty and cold! br The bride's skull sharpens her face! br But the coachman is driving, jubilant, bold, br The devil's pace. br br The horses shivered and shook br Waiting gaunt and haggard br With sorry and evil look; br But swift as a drunken wind they staggered br 'Longst Lethe brook. br br Long since, they ran no more; br Heavily pulling they died br On the sand of the hopeless shore br Where never swelled or sank a tide, br And the salt burns sore. br br Flat their skeletons lie, br White shadows on shining sand; br The crusted reins go high br To the crumbling coachman's bony hand br On his knees awry. br br Side by side, jarring no more, br Day and night side by side, br Each by a doorless door, br Motionless sit the bridegroom and bride br On the Dead-Sea-shore.