Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MORS ET VITA, by CORA RANDALL FABBRI


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MORS ET VITA, by                    
First Line: A church-yard -- aye, but spring has shaken down
Last Line: Upon that mystery which men call death.
Subject(s): Death; Dead, The


A CHURCH-YARD—aye, but Spring had shaken down
Her roses like a shower of sweet snow;
There was a bird where'er a bird could sing,
There was a rose where'er a rose could grow,
And all the long, pale grass smelt sweet of Spring.

The trees had leaves half shut, like dreams half dreamed,
And here a bird and there a bud was set;
A linnet sang so sweetly overhead,
So glad and sweet, 'twas easy to forget
That underneath the roses lay the dead.

Two maidens stood there in the radiant noon:
One plucked the roses, fair as they were frail,
And mingled with the birds her happy breath;
The other pondered, thoughtful-browed and pale,
Upon that mystery which men call Death.





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