Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE NEW DEATH, by EDITH MATILDA THOMAS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE NEW DEATH, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Greater than thou art dead, fear not
Last Line: Know what was that new death they knew!
Subject(s): Sickness; Illness


"GREATER than thou art dead; fear not
But die thou, too." I can die, too --
They die who have a record got
That Homer's heroes never knew.

I am of those so very ill
Who touch no more the solid day,
Nor know what time I have to fill,
If soon to go -- or longer stay.

So, my free thoughts can wing afar;
And turn they will -- and turn again,
Where the red fields of battle are
And Glory cannot count her men!

In daily and in nightly death
I die with those who greatly die,
As though 'twere naught to yield this breath
And turn their faces from the sky!

With most high passion, passing love,
They rush into the Terror's arms --
As though around, beneath, above,
Immortal proof met mortal harms!

And, sometimes, they to me draw near --
Bright shades of youth for country slain!
I cry, "How went ye without fear,
As though great joy excluded pain?"

They look at each and other -- and
At me they look, and smile, beside:
"It was -- if thou couldst understand --
Because in the New Death we died!"

"What New Death in the world can be?"
I cry -- they answer not my call.
(But some one soothly says to me,
"You have been dreaming -- that is all.")

"Greater than thou art dead; fear not
But die thou, too." Then, shall I, too,
Though humblest sharer in their lot,
Know what was that New Death they knew!





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