Death wanders through our lives at will, sweet Death

Is busy with each intake of our breath.

Why do you fear her? Lo, her laughing face

All rosy with the light of jocund grace!

A kind and lovely maiden culling flowers

In a sweet garden fresh with vernal showers,

This is the thing you fear, young portress bright,

Who opens to our souls the worlds of light.

Is it because the twisted stem must feel

Pain when the tenderest hands its glory steal?

Is it because the flowerless stalk droops dull

And ghastly now that was so beautiful?

Or is it the opening portal’s horrid jar

That shakes you, feeble souls of courage bare?

. Death is but changing of our robes to wait

In wedding garments at the Eternal’s gate.   

    Life and Death

Life, death, - death, life; the words have led for ages

Our thought and consciousness and firmly seemed

Two opposites; but now long-hidden pages

Are opened, liberating truths undreamed.

Life only is, or death is life disguised, -

Life a short death until by life we are surprised.   

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