THERE'S Chamfort. He's a sample. Locked himself in his library with a gun, Shot off his nose and shot out his right eye. And this Chamfort knew how to write And thousands read his books on how to live, But he himself didn't know How to die by force of his own hand -- see? They found him a red pool on the carpet Cool as an April forenoon, Talking and talking gay maxims and grim epigrams. Well, he wore bandages over his nose and right eye, Drank coffee and chatted many years With men and women who loved him Because he laughed and daily dared Death: "Come and take me." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VARIATIONS ON A THEME: ROMANCE by EDITH SITWELL TOM O'ROUGHLEY by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS SONG OF MARION'S MEN by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THE FISHERMAN by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS ACT 5 (MIDNIGHT) by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH |