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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
WHAT SURVIVES, by RAINER MARIA RILKE Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography
First Line: Who says that all must vanish?
Last Line: An angel wears it after you
Subject(s): Mourning
First Line: Who says that all must vanish?
Last Line: An angel wears it after you
Subject(s): Mourning
Who says that all must vanish?
Who knows, perhaps the flight
of the bird you wound remains,
and perhaps flowers survive
caresses in us, in their ground.
It isn't the gesture that lasts,
but it dresses you again in gold
armor -from breast to knees-
and the battle was so pure
an Angel wears it after you.
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Other Poems of Interest...
HUNGERFIELD by ROBINSON JEFFERS
THE MOURNER by LOUISE MOREY BOWMAN
HECUBA MOURNS by MARILYN NELSON
THERE IS NO GOD BUT by AGHA SHAHID ALI
IF I COULD MOURN LIKE A MOURNING DOVE by FRANK BIDART