Life and death
William Baylebridge 1883 (Brisbane) – 1942
This world is driven by two contending powers--
Love, that coerceth Heaven to dwell with dust,
And that dire pledge of Hell's self-perjured Lust--
And as we list must Heaven and Hell be ours.
Not light the election runs: lo, each devours
That savour set in each, while equal gust
Each uses; yet our choice support we must--
Blest wine or, this rejected, sweat that sours.
Love, oft through Hell that seems, acclaims what Heaven!
But Lust, through seeming Heaven, with easy breath
Slides on to Hell, how soon, how richly given!
If Love to heavenly state so quickeneth,
While Lust must e'er in cheating Hell be shriven,
They sponsor what, these powers, but Life and Death?
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 36 sec read
- 71 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | ABBAABBACDCDCD |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic hexameter |
Characters | 678 |
Words | 119 |
Stanzas | 1 |
Stanza Lengths | 14 |
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"Life and death" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 4 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/39071/life-and-death>.
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