Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON THE DEATH OF WILLIAM AIKMAN THE PAINTER: FINIS by JAMES THOMSON (1700-1748)

Poet Analysis

First Line: AS THOSE WE LOVE DECAY, WE DIE IN PART
Last Line: TILL, DYING, ALL HE CAN RESIGN IS -- BREATH.
Subject(s): DEATH; DEAD, THE;
AS those we love decay, we die in part,
String after string is sever'd from the heart;
Till loosen'd life, at last but breathing clay,
Without one pang is glad to fall away.

Unhappy he who latest feels the blow!
Whose eyes have wept o'er every friend laid low,
Dragg'd ling'ring on from partial death to death,
Till, dying, all he can resign is -- breath.



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