Lament / Planh

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Explore the Craft of Writing Poetry
Latin Verse

Lament- from the Latin lamenta-"wailing, weeping, groans", in verse is a genre of poetry that expresses grief or mourning. Although the word comes from Latin, there are Laments in the Hindu Vedas, classical Greek verse as well as the Hebrew Old Testament. In oral tradition the Lament is often performed by women.

The 14th century, Occitan lament was called the Planh and was verse that gave general praise for the departed, prayed for his soul and ended with an expression of the poet's sense of loss. This was actually a secular funeral song differing from the Dirge which is liturgical. (According the NPOPP, the poet's expression of loss was sometimes questionable.)

Dido's Lament by Nahum Tate

Thy hand, Belinda, darkness shades me
On thy bosom let me rest,
More I would, but Death invades me;
Death is now a welcome guest.
Aria:
When I am laid, am laid in earth,
May my wrongs create
No trouble, no trouble in thy breast;
Remember me, remember me,
but ah! forget my fate.
Remember me, but ah! forget my fate,