The Suicide's Argument Poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The Suicide's Argument

Rating: 3.5


Ere the birth of my life, if I wished it or no
No question was asked me--it could not be so !
If the life was the question, a thing sent to try
And to live on be YES; what can NO be ? to die.

NATURE'S ANSWER

Is't returned, as 'twas sent ? Is't no worse for the wear ?
Think first, what you ARE ! Call to mind what you WERE !
I gave you innocence, I gave you hope,
Gave health, and genius, and an ample scope,
Return you me guilt, lethargy, despair ?
Make out the invent'ry ; inspect, compare !
Then die--if die you dare !

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Undead Perez 23 June 2010

Everyone needs to stop over-analyzing the poem. I mean if theres anything to discuss, then do indeed discuss the utterly amazing feeling it leaves behind after reading it. No one will ever know what Samuel Taylor Coleridge meant or was feeling when he wrote this. Maybe, thats a good thing because perhaps its purpose is to help you all find the meaning for yourself on your own accounts not with what you think he was trying to portray. Just relish in the beauty of this awesome poem and be content with that :)

14 3 Reply
Merry Virgo 23 June 2010

wow....Im glad i saw you here my dearest ...you are my favorite poet you know that? hehe....I am so blessed I found you here... now I can read all your poems... nice one... god bless.... yours, merrypens

6 8 Reply
Pranab K Chakraborty 23 June 2012

Two lines I think emerge violently from the whole writing for the SUICIDER which I consider as the manifesto to take the decision of committing OR not-committing suicide: 1] Think first, what you ARE! Call to mind what you WERE! 2] Then die-if die you dare! After all suicide is the last weapon to confront the intense adversity for a non-compromising personality. The Poem is a brave work to give suicide an institutional recognition. Nice put from the old master. Pranab k chakraborty

9 5 Reply

Highly recommendable poem for avoiding such destruction oneself his own life called suicide.

8 5 Reply
Aftab Alam Khursheed 23 June 2013

Human being is so treacherous what we get tries to return making it useless, At a stretch one who adopt the suicide they think useless the gift of life and think it is forcefully given and hence they want a wishful return making it useless

4 9 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 07 November 2021

Beautiful poem. Congrats with the Classic Poem Of The Day

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 07 November 2021

Fascinating poem brings a valuable message within

0 0 Reply
Nabakishore Dash 07 November 2021

Very excellent poem with extra ordinary philosophy.

1 0 Reply
Rose Marie Juan-austin 06 November 2021

A powerful poem with a meaningful message. Well crafted and expressed.

1 0 Reply
Alien 13 November 2020

WOW,its marvelous

2 0 Reply
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