
Sorrow & Melancholy are sisters
and Melancholy is the quieter of the two.
You’ll find her alone in silence,
pondering out of view.
She wonders of her status,
of love and loss and life,
Her sister Sorrow sings songs of grief
and speaks sonnets of strife.
Sorrow is often heard
yet almost always seen,
Melancholy is so much meeker,
and her sadness has not become routine.
Her moments in the spotlight,
seem few and far between.
Sorrow has put herself to bed,
so Melancholy can reap the quiet.
She can get lost in her thoughts,
without calming her sisters tears instead.
This poem is based on the art piece La Mélancolie (c. 1785) by Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée.
About the Creator
Josey Pickering
Autistic, non-binary, queer horror nerd with a lot to say.
Reader insights
Outstanding
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Heartfelt and relatable
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Comments (4)
Beautifully written :)
I love the juxtaposed allegories and the lyrical style. Excellent poem.
Quiet pain can be the hardest burden to bear
That's a very insightful contrast between Sorrow and Melancholy that you paint. This is great.