Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DYING CHRISTIAN TO HIS SOUL, by PUBLIUS AELIUS HADRIANUS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DYING CHRISTIAN TO HIS SOUL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Vital spark of heavenly flame! / quit, o quit this mortal frame!
Last Line: O death! Where is thy sting?
Alternate Author Name(s): Hadrian
Variant Title(s): Ode: The Dying Christian To His Soul
Subject(s): Bible; Death; Heaven; Religion; Dead, The; Paradise; Theology


Vital spark of heav'nly flame!
Quit, oh quit this mortal frame:
Trembling, hoping, ling'ring, flying,
Oh the pain, the bliss of dying!
Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife,
And let me languish into life.

Hark! they whisper; Angels say,
Sister Spirit, come away.
What is this absorbs me quite?
Steals my senses, shuts my sight,
Drowns my spirits, draws my breath?
Tell me, my Soul, can this be Death?

The world recedes; it disappears!
Heav'n opens on my eyes! my ears
With sounds seraphic ring:
Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly!
O Grave! where is thy Victory?
O Death! where is thy Sting?





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net