Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BETTER A FLAME, by LUCIA TRENT First Line: The coppers lunged against the bolted door Last Line: Than wick to which a flame has never come. Alternate Author Name(s): Cheyney, Mrs. Ralph; Glass, Mrs. Ernest Subject(s): Suicide | ||||||||
The coppers lunged against the bolted door Into the room that reeked with gaseous smell. April's incredible sun illumined the floor And paintings he had tried so hard to sell. The coroner turned the body upon its back. The cameras clicked. "He gave himself a ride." The newsboys piled the papers stack on stack. And boldface headlines shouted, "SUICIDE!" Too sensitive to bear the callous racket, Fearing that failure's cross would brand his breast, He punctuated life with narrow bracket And took the easy way to easy rest. Better be a flame for storms to thumb Than wick to which a flame has never come. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BOARDMAN AND COFFIN by CONRAD AIKEN FOR THE SUICIDES OF TWO YEARS AGO by DONALD JUSTICE SEVEN STREAMS OF NEVIS by GALWAY KINNELL DIDO AND AENEAS by CHARLES MARTIN I COULD NOT TELL by SHARON OLDS POOR DEVIL! by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET |
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