Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CALL OF DEATH, by CHARLES V. H. ROBERTS First Line: Last of myself-I thought how hard to die Last Line: Once and no moreah! Make no cry! Subject(s): Death; Graves; Heaven; Soul; Dead, The; Tombs; Tombstones; Paradise | ||||||||
Last of myselfI thought how hard to die; To pass without a tear into the stars; To leave this fiery glory-colored world of ours, And thy dear face; the doubt and dreadful fear When thrust out thence, to go I know not where. At times in truth, it seemed to me that I, Beloved, was wrought before the moon or sun, Before the fallen angels, darkness, light, creation; Oh! God, where was my soul, where did this body lie Before the cycles of eternity were run; The stars turned in their course without the sight of man? Beloved, come nearer. I am conscious still Cold though I feelpassing, passing on. Each chill Of life I have, breathes only on the sight Of thee; for seeour love's fire has lit The flame of younger immortalities. Tell me, when first thy soul confessed this love? No!not through thy tearsI can feel above My heart, thy blood run to thy finger ends. Be not worn with grief or blasted by despair; If thou wouldst love me longerwed memory to prayer, The holy whispers of unsundered souls. Last of myself, I thought how hard to die, Anguish in my anguish, through the gulf of space, Perhaps the fires of Hella kindred serpent face. Soul naked now, in fears and sorrows all The actions of my life before me lie. Each past spoke angry word, a panic call In black-veiled voices of the great Unknown, A-flutter o'er my head in horror shown. How can I leave these painted toys of earth, The memory of thy tears and sweetest mirth? Ah, come! Thy lips to kissthy heart to love, Thine eyes to see! So near the mystic glow Of Deathto feel is better than to know Sweet touches, interchange, the sound of song, In swaying languors unrestrained. Come! e'er I'm robed in my immortal shape. Away my dreams of mystery in the throng Of yonder stars! Away these tears that drip and make My soul coward, afraid to sate thy fount of love, Fear-dumb by the nearness of oblivion! Thou couldst reconcile the farthest planets, Reweave the crumbling halls and fill the gap with stones, Breathe into the city's dead or broken bones Splendid newer livesne'er wrecked by sea or wind. Perhaps to-night will come Chaos in heaven, Which Perpetual Happiness cannot assuage; As I shall grow and grieve and call the past Along the way that leadeth back to thee, Until thy name is gilded on the Page. I'll fondly seek thee with immortal eyes, Out o'er the azure distance pure with prayer, The song of sleepbetween thy soul and mine. Moonbeams will kiss thy garden hedge,a hue In silver visions, that the pagans knew; And clouds made of my tears will rain my sighs Upon thy cheeks and lips and turn thy breasts To lilies. At times feel thee my passing breath, A quivering spirit crossed with bars of gold and crests, A joy, a pain, a prayerunited in eternity. On, Death! Why do I fear thy doom and dazzle, Thy thunder-scarthy withered cheek? Where'er I go, I was ever bound to go, My soul, at least, a gem in this decaying heap. Adieumy love, my life. Behold! I die! Once and no moreAh! make no cry! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE END OF LIFE by PHILIP JAMES BAILEY SEVEN TWILIGHTS: 6 by CONRAD AIKEN THE BOOK OF THE DEAD MAN (#19): 2. MORE ABOUT THE DEAD MAN AND WINTER by MARVIN BELL THE WORLDS IN THIS WORLD by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR A SKELETON FOR MR. PAUL IN PARADISE; AFTER ALLAN GUISINGER by NORMAN DUBIE BEAUTY & RESTRAINT by DANIEL HALPERN HOW IT WILL HAPPEN, WHEN by DORIANNE LAUX IF THIS IS PARADISE by DORIANNE LAUX A PROPOSAL by CHARLES V. H. ROBERTS |
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