Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, EVEN IN THE GRAVE, by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

EVEN IN THE GRAVE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: I laid my inventory at the hand
Last Line: Even in the grave thou wilt have thyself,' he said.
Alternate Author Name(s): Ramal, Walter; De La Mare, Walter


I laid my inventory at the hand
Of Death, who in his gloomy arbour sate;
And while he conned it, sweet and desolate
I heard Love singing in that quiet land.
He read the record even to the end --
The heedless, livelong injuries of Fate,
The burden of foe, the burden of love and hate;
The wounds of foe, the bitter wounds of friend:

All, all, he read, ay, even the indifference,
The vain talk, vainer silence, hope and dream.
He questioned me: 'What seek'st thou then instead?'
I bowed my face in the pale evening gleam.
Then gazed he on me with strange innocence:
'Even in the grave thou wilt have thyself,' he said.





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