Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SWEET DEATH, by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The sweetest blossoms die Last Line: Prefer to glean with ruth? Alternate Author Name(s): Alleyne, Ellen; Rossetti, Christina Subject(s): Death; Dead, The | ||||||||
The sweetest blossoms die. And so it was that, going day by day Unto the Church to praise and pray, And crossing the green churchyard thoughtfully, I saw how on the graves the flowers Shed their fresh leaves in showers, And how their perfume rose up to the sky Before it passed away. The youngest blossoms die. They die and fall and nourish the rich earth From which they lately had their birth; Sweet life, but sweeter death that passeth by As is as though it had not been: - All colours turn to green; The bright hues vanish, and the odours fly, The grass hath lasting worth. And youth and beauty die. So be it, O my God, Thou God of Truth; Better than beauty and than youth Are Saints and Angels, a glad company; And Thou, O Lord, our Rest and Ease, Are better far than these. Why should we shrink from our full harvest? why Prefer to glean with Ruth? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND IT IS FINISHED' by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI ITALIA, IO TI SALUTO!' by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE HEART KNOWETH ITS OWN BITTERNESS' (2) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI |
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