Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DEATH AND LIFE, by SAROJINI NAIDU Poet's Biography First Line: Death stroked my hair and whispered tenderly Last Line: "of song or service for my country's need?" Subject(s): Death; Dead, The | ||||||||
DEATH stroked my hair and whispered tenderly: "Poor child, shall I redeem thee from thy pain, Renew thy joy and issue thee again Inclosed in some renascent ecstasy ... Some lilting bird or lotus-loving bee, Or the diaphanous silver of the rain, Th' alluring scent of the sirisha-plain, The wild wind's voice, the white wave's melody?" I said, "Thy gentle pity shames mine ear, O Death, am I so purposeless a thing, Shall my soul falter or my body fear Its poignant hour of bitter suffering, Or fail ere I achieve my destined deed Of song or service for my country's need?" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND A CHALLENGE TO FATE by SAROJINI NAIDU |
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