Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE TIMELY MEMENTO, by PHILIP AYRES Poet's Biography First Line: The shipwrack'd bark cannot more sure convey Last Line: Since dying is the only way to live? Subject(s): Death; Conduct Of Life; Dead, The | ||||||||
THE shipwrack'd bark cannot more sure convey Our human life into the raging sea: Nor darts to mark can more directly fly: Nor floods to th' ocean, than we post to die. Then happy thou, who dost so well begin, And so thy race hold on, the palm to win! Blest Runner! that when tir'd, and lying down, Dost rise possess'd of an Eternal Crown. Only by closing here thy mortal eyes, Opens the passage to celestial joys. Then let him take the Earth who loves to reign, Yet a small tract, e'er long, shall him contain; Where he as monarch cannot be obey'd, For saucy worms his limits shall invade. If all must die, why should we fear and grieve, Since dying is the only way to live? | 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 ON A FAIR BEGGAR by PHILIP AYRES |
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