Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO A YOUNG POET WHO KILLED HIMSELF, by ALFRED JOYCE KILMER Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: When you had played with life a space Last Line: "and don't you think you were an ass?" Alternate Author Name(s): Kilmer, Joyce Subject(s): Poetry & Poets | ||||||||
When you had played with life a space And made it drink and lust and sing, You flung it back into God's face And thought you did a noble thing. "Lo, I have lived and loved," you said, "And sung to fools too dull to hear me. Now for a cool and grassy bed With violets in blossom near me." Well, rest is good for weary feet, Although they ran for no great prize; And violets are very sweet, Although their roots are in your eyes. But hark to what the earthworms say Who share with you your muddy haven: "The fight was on -- you ran away. You are a coward and a craven. "The rug is ruined where you bled; It was a dirty way to die! To put a bullet through your head And make a silly woman cry! You could not vex the merry stars Nor make them heed you, dead or living. Not all your puny anger mars God's irresistible forgiving. "Yes, God forgives and men forget, And you're forgiven and forgotten. You might be gaily sittle shame? And don't you think you were an ass?" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ENVY OF OTHER PEOPLE'S POEMS by ROBERT HASS THE NINETEENTH CENTURY AS A SONG by ROBERT HASS THE FATALIST: TIME IS FILLED by LYN HEJINIAN OXOTA: A SHORT RUSSIAN NOVEL: CHAPTER 192 by LYN HEJINIAN LET ME TELL YOU WHAT A POEM BRINGS by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA JUNE JOURNALS 6/25/88 by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA FOLLOW ROZEWICZ by JUAN FELIPE HERRERA HAVING INTENDED TO MERELY PICK ON AN OIL COMPANY, THE POEM GOES AWRY by HICOK. BOB |
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