Say not that death is king, that night is lord, That loveliness is passing, beauty dies; Nor tell me hope's a vain, deceptive dream Fate lends to life, a pleasing, luring gleam To light awhile the earth's despondent skies, Till death brings swift and sure its dread reward. Say not that youth deceives, but age is true, That roses quickly pass, while cypress bides, That happiness is foolish, grief is wise, That stubborn dust shall choke our human cries. Death tells new worlds, and life immortal hides Beyond the veil, which shall all wrongs undo. This was the tale God breathed to me at dawn When flooding sunrise told the night was gone. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...INDIAN WOMAN'S DEATH-SONG by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS EYES AND TEARS by ANDREW MARVELL PARADISE LOST: BOOK 4 by JOHN MILTON EPITAPH INTENDED FOR SIR ISAAC NEWTON, IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY by ALEXANDER POPE HINDOO FUNERAL SONG by EDWIN ARNOLD ON RETURN FROM THE SHORE by HELEN IFFLA BAY AT THE GRAVE OF DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI by H. T. MACKENZIE BELL |