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8.7
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(41
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DEATH, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so:
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death; nor yet canst thou kill me.
From Rest and Sleep, which but thy picture be,
Much pleasure, then from thee much more must flow;
And soonest our best men with thee do go--
Rest of their bones and souls' delivery!
Thou'rt slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell;
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke. Why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And Death shall be no more: Death, thou shalt die!
John Donne
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Read poems about / on: sleep, death, fate, war
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Frank James Ryan, Jr.
(12/3/2009 11:16:00 PM) |
John Donne, wore many a hat in his 59 years on this earth.In fact, he even wore a Mitre, when as an ordained Catholic Priest, he was later ordained a Bishop! Donnes legacy was spectrum vast, and poured in overachievement. As an early 17th Century Poet, Donne was, and remains today, arguably the finest of the metaphysical scribes in literature. His work is still studied in high schools & universities throughout the world, and his famed Holy Sonnets Collection (imo) remains 2nd to none in terms of ethereal/theological themed verse. ''Death Be Not Proud'' accurately represents Donnes philosophies on Life, Death & what we should be in the inbetween. This work is, in short, John Donne at his best, and i consider him to be one of the Top 20 poetic artisans of all time.
Frank James Ryan, Jr/FjR
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W Grace
(12/3/2009 10:35:00 PM) |
I read this at my father's funeral and will anthologize it some day as one of the 50 I love most. Bill Grace
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Eveline Mendes
(12/3/2009 1:49:00 PM) |
great poem...elivates the fear of death for those who are don't like touchn on de subject...by sayn death will lose in de end....u get an idea of his religious views...believing in the after life.
the part about death being a slave, was wow. (mks u wish u thought of it first)
still i welcome death.
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Kevin Straw
(12/3/2009 8:09:00 AM) |
Donne contradicts himself in saying that “poppy and charms can make us sleep as well/And better than thy stroke”, but that from Death “much more must flow” (i.e. Heaven) than from Rest and Sleep. Here Donne subconsciously prefers “poppy and charms” to Death even though his is the only gate to paradise..
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JOSEPH POEWHIT
(12/3/2009 7:57:00 AM) |
To see the futility of mortal death and then the ending glory of eternal life. [ that's a long, long time to live, for eternity ] Praise the Lord
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Joseph Stotz
(12/3/2009 5:33:00 AM) |
i always feel like somebodies watching me
progressive is my carrier tho - not - geico
however that commercial was funny
call me googly eyes and search my name in the jails of virginia
for my criminal record if need be
I rest with the quantum of solace
as I search not for miss xmas
but ride out today under god for Saint Nick
A.K.A sigma delta phi
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Ramesh T A
(12/3/2009 1:36:00 AM) |
Death is but an eternal sleep which we are doing temporarily everyday! So, let Death need not feel proud of itself! A good attack on Death!
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Anjali Mandokhot
(12/3/2008 9:34:00 PM) |
death they say is the ultimate truth...but then death can only come to life.....its existence depends solely on life..and that is a bigger truth...that death is a slave to life......there is fighting spirit in this poem...that defies death.....its inspiring to start with.....
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Brenna Prentice
(12/3/2008 7:22:00 PM) |
Poetry is a form of art, whether it is depressing, cheerful, or saddening. The people that make the choices probably choose poems that are not read often. We should broaden our perspective on all poems and not stick to the 'happy' poems
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