The poem, written by Charles Kingsley in 1830, tells a tragic tale of a young woman named Mary who dies after being stranded in the treacherous sands of the River Dee. The river, personified as a male figure, is portrayed as a powerful and dangerous force that lures Mary to her death. The poem explores themes of love, loss, and the dangers of nature's allure.
The use of "Dee" in the poem's title and throughout the narrative emphasizes the river's central role in the story and its impact on Mary's fate.