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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

INSCRIPTION FOR A BURIAL URN by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON

First Line: FIRE IS OLDER THAN EARTH
Last Line: BUT LOOK NOT FOR IT IN GRAVE OR URN.
FIRE is older than Earth,
Swaddled her at her birth,
Shall be her windy shroud.
Fear whispers, @3Earth with fire endowed
Is all of Life:@1 but the Soul's Desire
Is something other than earth and fire,
And cannot mold or burn.
Of this is Honor made, and Truth,
And Love that shall out-light the star.
Go find when these began their youth,
Then guess their age's farthest bar;
But look not for it in grave or urn.



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