Sombre-Habited One stood without my door; "Why comest thou?" I said, "And what dost thou implore?" "I bring thee messages," he cried, "Of Fate no mortal can appease, Of proud men humbled in their pride, And of our twenty-year Endowment policies. "Man springeth up as grass And flourisheth a day, But as the moments pass He withereth away; Bitter is man's unhappy durance Ere into darkness he must go, Unless protected by insurance. The premiums of which are quite absurdly low. "If the blind Furies come With the abhorred shears, Snipping off of some Feet and hands and ears, Exulting still and unafraid They challenge Fate, unbowed, defiant, Because their premiums are paid! (This happened but last week to one delighted client.)" "O voice of Fate," said I, "How true it is, how true, That Death is ever nigh -- Especially to you! How swiftly might this club set free The soul within its gaol immured -----" He fled; there echoed distantly The screams of one who ran to get himself insured. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FROM THE GREATER TESTAMENT (XXII, XXIII, AND XXVI) by FRANCOIS VILLON SONG FOR ALL SEAS, ALL SHIPS by WALT WHITMAN MARIA MINOR by MARGARET AVISON SPRING'S WOOING by NELLIE BRISTOW CRUSADERS by ABBIE FARWELL BROWN PARSON ALLEN'S RIDE [AUGUST 15, 1777] by WALLACE BRUCE THE OLD MAN'S COUNSEL by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT |