THE shipwrack'd bark cannot more sure convey Our human life into the raging sea: Nor darts to mark can more directly fly: Nor floods to th' ocean, than we post to die. Then happy thou, who dost so well begin, And so thy race hold on, the palm to win! Blest Runner! that when tir'd, and lying down, Dost rise possess'd of an Eternal Crown. Only by closing here thy mortal eyes, Opens the passage to celestial joys. Then let him take the Earth who loves to reign, Yet a small tract, e'er long, shall him contain; Where he as monarch cannot be obey'd, For saucy worms his limits shall invade. If all must die, why should we fear and grieve, Since dying is the only way to live? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SOUL AND BODY by LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE APRIL - AND DYING by ANNE REEVE ALDRICH PARLIAMENT OF WOMEN: PRAXAGORA REHEARSES by ARISTOPHANES CHRISTMASSE DAY by JOSEPH BEAUMONT ON READING THE 'RUBAIYAT' OF OMAR KHAYYAM IN A KENTISH ROSE GARDEN by MATHILDE BLIND |