Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DYING MAN IN HIS GARDEN, by GEORGE SEWELL First Line: Why, damon, with the forward day Last Line: "but rosemary, will with thee go." Subject(s): Death; Gardens & Gardening; Dead, The | ||||||||
"Why, Damon, with the forward day, Dost thou thy little spot survey? From tree to tree, with doubtful cheer, Pursue the progress of the year; What winds arise, what rains descend, When thou before that year shalt end? What do thy noon-day walks avail, To clear the leaf, and pick the snail? Then wantonly to death decree An insect usefuller than thee? Thou and the worm art brother-kind, As low, as earthy, and as blind. Vain wretch! canst thou expect to see The downy peach make court to thee? Or that thy sense shall ever meet The bean-flower's deep-embosomed sweet? Exhaling with an evening's blast, Thy evenings then will all be past. Thy narrow pride, thy fancied green, (For vanity's in little seen) All must be left when Death appears, In spite of wishes, groans, and tears; Nor one of all thy plants that grow, But Rosemary, will with thee go." | 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 GOOD-BYE DOROTHY GAYLE: HOME TO FARGO by KAREN SWENSON |
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