Yea, Love is strong as life; he casts out fear, And wrath, and hate, and all our envious foes; He stands upon the threshold, quick to close The gate of happiness ere should appear Death's dreaded presence -- ay, but Death draws near, And large and gray the towering outline grows, Whose face is veiled and hid; and yet Love knows Full well, too well, alas! that Death is here. Death tramples on the roses; Death comes in, Though Love, with outstretched arms and wings outspread, Would bar the way -- poor Love, whose wings begin To droop, half-torn as are the roses dead Already at his feet -- but Death must win, And Love grows faint beneath that ponderous tread! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...COLUMBUS by EDWARD EVERETT HALE THE SOLDIER by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 27 by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN FIRST OF MAY by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH TO A CHILD OF THREE YEARS OLD by BERNARD BARTON |