Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THIS TRANSIENT WORLD, by LILLIAN QUINBY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THIS TRANSIENT WORLD, by                    
First Line: If all of life must be spent in grief
Last Line: And life is brief.
Subject(s): Transience; Wellesley College; Impermanence


IF all of life must be spent in grief,
It will not matter, since life is brief.

Grief cannot matter. (See the moon
Rising yellow behind the dune.)
Grief cannot matter. No, nor bliss,
If there is no life after this.
Then life is over,
How vain! How small!
Nothing matters if this is all.

Grief cannot matter. (The breakers reach
Their racing silver along the beach.)
Grief cannot matter. If life sweeps on
In splendid circles when breath is gone,
No fleeting sorrow
Which earth has brought
Is worth a sigh or deserves a thought.

Let us go in. The wind is harsh,
Blowing, tonight, across the marsh.
Let us go in and shut out grief,
For nothing matters
And life is brief.





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