death – Page 3 – The Consolations of Writing

Lent 27: Monday of Fourth Week

But whose victory? And how the victory won? A camel approaches the needle’s eye; Money glints in place of God… All these I have done since I was a child – Still one thing is needed, and here lies pain. The victory walks ahead to death. Enemies watch and wait.

Les Feuilles Mortes

Yes, the leaves die as they go golden, yet this does not speak to me of death, as hand-in-hand we walk below bowers which colour the world’s bright defiant grave. Tombs carry promise, still dormant – a longing – life hidden by theseContinue reading “Les Feuilles Mortes”

Catechism 7

What does the law of God require? Personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience; that we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love our neighbour as ourselves. What God forbids should never be done and what God commands should always be done. (New City Catechism) And what does He require of you,Continue reading “Catechism 7”

Numbering Days (After Marianne Moore’s “What are Years?”)

Today’s poem – my last one responding to Marianne Moore – is inspired by her great reflection on mortality and eternity, “What are Years?” It was the first of her poems that I ever read, back when I was studying poetry in the fourth year of my Literature degree, and I still remember the impactContinue reading “Numbering Days (After Marianne Moore’s “What are Years?”)”

Memento Mori

Tenth birthday, and the Titanic sinks On a screen, the largest in The southern hemisphere, Drifting down beneath the waves, Wreckage waiting, submarines Plumbing depths to find its jewels, Then sunlight after deep marine, The exit into daylight scenes And Dreamworld rides and cake, With me, crestfallen, eagerness Sublimated in this breeze, This vapour recognition.

Alive (After Christina Rossetti’s “Sleeping At Last”)

One of the last poems that Christina Rossetti wrote (possibly her last; her brother, William Michael, is unclear about this) was the touchingly simple “Sleeping At Last”. Taking the subject of death, which has fascinated many poets from Donne to Dickinson, Rossetti presents death as sleep, a peaceful rest ending pain and beyond which liesContinue reading “Alive (After Christina Rossetti’s “Sleeping At Last”)”

Expectancy (After Christina Rossetti’s “The Thread of Life”)

Another one of my favourite Christina Rossetti poems is one of her least known – a cycle of three sonnets entitled, “The Thread of Life”. You can read the original here. In response to her poem, I have attempted my own set of three sonnets, working with some of Rossetti’s original theme. You might alsoContinue reading “Expectancy (After Christina Rossetti’s “The Thread of Life”)”