Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, POST MORTEM, by JAMES MONAHAN


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

POST MORTEM, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Since ending must be, this was how to end
Last Line: What comfort is there since she went from me?
Subject(s): Death; Grief; Memory; Dead, The; Sorrow; Sadness


SINCE ending must be, this was how to end,
by pitiless, sudden strangling of our pleasure.
And so it was done — this knowledge is my friend,
hiding the ghosts in empty rooms of leisure
that shone with her. ... I shall not know with her
the disenchanted day, nor feel nor face
a rapture cooled and turned philanderer,
wonder that is weary and has run its race.
Add that the time has left no dingy shame,
no slick derision, crookedly self-defending.
Add that to think of it is not to blame
her who gave forthright, made a surgeon's ending.
Add this and all the comforts there may be;
what comfort is there since she went from me?





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