This poem is an elegy written in honor of the death sister of the poet. It has five stanzas, each one a quatrain, and the rhyme scheme is abab. The rhyme scheme in this poem is very important as it adds to the rhythm of the poem and invokes auditory imagery of the dead sister who is now at peace.
An elegy essentially laments the death of a loved one, in this case, the sister of Oscar Wilde. This poem is a traditional elegy that laments the death of a loved one and is introspective at the same time. The poet talks about his beautiful sister who is now under the earth. He asks a third person (unknown) to tread softly. The rhyme scheme helps establish the rhythm of such treading.
The sister is associated with flowers like daisies and the lily. This might be symbolic of her beauty and innocence. Moreover, the color white is used to describe her, which could symbolize both her purity and innocence, and the peace that she has found in death.
The poet ends with saying that even though she has found peace, his life has been buried under the earth with her. Perhaps, he implies that there is no peace for the living.
