My family has been dealing with a lot of illness lately, so I’m taking comfort in this very old poem by John Donne, titled “Death Be Not Proud.” Definitely no silly ditty, this poem bears weight; serious, yet triumphant, it is particularly appropriate for the upcoming Easter season.
“Death be not proud, though some have called thee / Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;” Donne insists.
Donne concludes the poem with a powerful reassurance: “One short sleep past, we wake eternally / And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.”
No, this poem isn’t exactly cheery, but it does renew my hope.
This is a lovely poem. It reminds us that death can also be a celebration, a release, and a relief. I really like it.
ReplyDeleteKathy
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