YE young debaters over the doctrine Of the soul's immortality, I who lie here was the village atheist, Talkative, contentious, versed in the arguments Of the infidels. But through a long sickness Coughing myself to death I read the Upanishads and the poetry of Jesus. And they lighted a torch of hope and intuition And desire which the Shadow, Leading me swiftly through the caverns of darkness, Could not extinguish. Listen to me, ye who live in the senses And think through the senses only: Immortality is not a gift, Immortality is an achievement; And only those who strive mightily Shall possess it. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SOLDIER by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON GOD AND MY COUNTRY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE BLIND GOD by ISAAC ROSENBERG HUFFMAN'S PHOTOGRAPH OF THE GRAVES OF THE UNKNOWN AT LITTLE BIGHORN by KAREN SWENSON A LITTLE WHILE by SARA TEASDALE A VOYAGE TO CYTHERA by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE |