BEFORE the abyss of the unanswering grave Each mortal stands at last aloof, alone, With his beloved one turned as deaf as stone, However rebel love may storm and rave. No will, however strong, avails to save The wrecked identity knit to our own; We may not hoard one treasured look or tone, Dissolved in foam on Death's dissolving wave. Is this the End? This handful of brown earth For all releasing elements to take And free for ever from the bonds of birth? Or will true life from Life's disguises break, Called to that vast confederacy of minds Which casts all flesh as chaff to all the winds? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BAY FIGHT by HENRY HOWARD BROWNELL THE OVIDIAN ELEGIAC METRE, DESCRIBED AND EXEMPLIFIED by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE A HYMN TO GOD THE FATHER by JOHN DONNE THE FIGHT AT SAN JACINTO [APRIL 21, 1836] by JOHN WILLIAMSON PALMER A VISION UPON [THIS CONCEIT] OF THE FAERIE QUEENE (2) by WALTER RALEIGH |