Proficiscere, Anima Christiana, De Hoc Mundo! Poem by David Mitchell

Why does my soul so strongly cling
To the world that gave it birth?
Will not that Death to whom I sing
Release me from this earth?

Scarce can I bear sixty years more
Or so, of human life,
Take me away from sorrow's shore,
From anguish and from strife!

Take me from endless misery,
To somewhere happy, or sans woe;
And let me there my comfort see:
From life release and let me go!

Or if you won't take me away
From suffering, then take
That suffering from me today
Ere I completely break.

* * *

Be strong, my soul, fear not to endure
Blind Fortune's many a dart:
Black thunderclouds will soon, for sure,
Break, into light, apart.

(Sunday,8th October,2006.)