Bones

Bones symbolize death. The poem opens with the image of the bones of the martyred Waldensians among the mountains. Although the poem was likely written shortly after the massacre – before the bodies would actually have had time to decompose – the use of "bones" as a symbol summons images of the eternal nature of death.

Mountains

Mountains symbolize the austere aspects of the natural world. The Piedmont mountains are particularly tall and particularly cold. By reminding readers of this setting, the details of the massacre – in which the Waldensians were chased further up into the mountains before being killed – are reinforced for the viewer.

The Book

The Book symbolizes God's judgment. In Christian belief, God has a book in which the names of those destined for Heaven are recorded. The speaker asks God to include the suffering of the Waldensians in his book, both to preserve their...