Death Poem by Helen Hunt Jackson
Death
My body, eh? Friend Death, how now?
Why all this tedious pomp of writ?
Thou hast reclaimed it sure and slow
For half a century bit by bit.
In faith thou knowest more to-day
Than I do, where it can be found!
This shrivelled lump of suffering clay,
To which I am now chained and bound,
Has not of kith or kin a trace
To the good body once I bore;
Look at this shrunken, ghastly face:
Didst ever see that face before?
Ah, well, friend Death, good friend thou art;
Thy only fault thy lagging gait,
Mistaken pity in thy heart
For timorous ones that bid thee wait.
Do quickly all thou hast to do,
Nor I nor mine will hindrance make;
I shall be free when thou art through;
I grudge thee nought that thou must take!
Stay! I have lied; I grudge thee one,
Yes, two I grudge thee at this last,--
Two members which have faithful done
My will and bidding in the past.
I grudge thee this right hand of mine;
I grudge thee this quick-beating heart;
They never gave me coward sign,
Nor played me once the traitor's part.
I see now why in olden days
Men in barbaric love or hate
Nailed enemies' hands at wild crossways,
Shrined leaders' hearts in costly state:
The symbol, sign and instrument
Of each soul's purpose, passion, strife,
Of fires in which are poured and spent
Their all of love, their all of life.
O feeble, mighty human hand!
O fragile, dauntless human heart!
The universe holds nothing planned
With such sublime, transcendent art!
Yes, Death, I own I grudge thee mine
Poor little hand, so feeble now;
Its wrinkled palm, its altered line,
Its veins so pallid and so slow --
Ah, well, friend Death, good friend thou art;
I shall be free when thou art through.
Take all there is -- take hand and heart;
There must be somewhere work to do.
THREE: The theme revolves around the emotional aftermath of a loved one's passing, capturing the weight of grief and the struggle to find solace. Through vivid imagery and poignant language, the poetess invites readers to contemplate mortality and the lasting impact of love and loss.
TWO: The poem reflects the Victorian sensibility of the time period, emphasizing emotional restraint and employing heightened language to convey grief. In this elegiac piece, the poetess explores the profound sorrow associated with loss and the enduring pain that lingers even after death.
ONE: This poem departs from the nature-centric themes prevalent in her other poetry. Instead, it delves into the complexities of human relationships and the devastating impact of betrayal.
FOREWORD: I clicked for FIVE STARS but by 4 stars it ends already, so sad to experience this today. This is a very sad poem, but beautifully worded. Starting with ONE and so on, to be able to read it in the correct order.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/19/2024 2:56:21 AM # 1.0.0.1119
LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST: The poem's tone oscillates between melancholy and contemplative, leaving an indelible impression on those who encounter it.