THERE'S Chamfort. He's a sample. Locked himself in his library with a gun, Shot off his nose and shot out his right eye. And this Chamfort knew how to write And thousands read his books on how to live, But he himself didn't know How to die by force of his own hand -- see? They found him a red pool on the carpet Cool as an April forenoon, Talking and talking gay maxims and grim epigrams. Well, he wore bandages over his nose and right eye, Drank coffee and chatted many years With men and women who loved him Because he laughed and daily dared Death: "Come and take me." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WHAT THEY ASK by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS THE PUPPETS by PIERRE JEAN DE BERANGER LARABELLE; CANTO THIRD by LEVI BISHOP AT THE FIREMEN'S EXHIBITION by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB O'CONNOR'S CHILD; OR, THE FLOWER OF LOVE-LIES-BLEEDING by THOMAS CAMPBELL |