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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


OUTIDANA: A DIRGE by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES

Poet Analysis

First Line: TO-DAY IS A THOUGHT, A FEAR IS TO-MORROW
Last Line: THEN WE WEEP FOR OURSELVES, AND WISH THEE GOODBYE.
Subject(s): DEATH; LIFE; DEAD, THE;

To-day is a thought, a fear is to-morrow,
And yesterday is our sin and our sorrow;
And life is a death,
Where the body's the tomb,
And the pale sweet breath
Is buried alive in its hideous gloom.
Then waste no tear,
For we are the dead; the living are here,
In the stealing earth, and the heavy bier.
Death lives but an instant, and is but a sigh,
And his son is unnamed immortality,
Whose being is thine. Dear ghost, so to die
Is to live, -- and life is a worthless lie. --
Then we weep for ourselves, and wish thee goodbye.



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