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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
YOUTH AND DEATH, by EDWARD MERRILL ROOT Poet's Biography
First Line: Death is but life's escape: a rung
Last Line: And god remains alive by death.
Alternate Author Name(s): Root, E. Merrill
Subject(s): Death; God; Youth; Dead, The
First Line: Death is but life's escape: a rung
Last Line: And god remains alive by death.
Alternate Author Name(s): Root, E. Merrill
Subject(s): Death; God; Youth; Dead, The
Death is but life's escape: a rung
On which life climbs from where it clung
To a new height of youth. Forever
Death clogs our feet in vain endeavor
To hold us—trying still to keep
Life fast in habit, ease or sleep,
In sluggard blood and ageing brain ...
Forever life breaks free again,
Outwitting death by death. We perish
To wake us from the graves we cherish.
We lose—that youth may gain—our breath,
And God remains alive by death.
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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
CARPENTER OF ETERNITY by EDWARD MERRILL ROOT