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Joyce Kilmer - To A Young Poet Who Killed Himself

When you had played with life a space
And made it drink and lust and sing,
You flung it back into God's face
And thought you did a noble thing.
"Lo, I have lived and loved," you said,
"And sung to fools too dull to hear me.
Now for a cool and grassy bed
With violets in blossom near me."
Well, rest is good for weary feet,
Although they ran for no great prize;
And violets are very sweet,
Although their roots are in your eyes.
But hark to what the earthworms say
Who share with you your muddy haven:
"The fight was on -- you ran away.
You are a coward and a craven.
"The rug is ruined where you bled;
It was a dirty way to die!
To put a bullet through your head
And make a silly woman cry!
You could not vex the merry stars
Nor make them heed you, dead or living.
Not all your puny anger mars
God's irresistible forgiving.
"Yes, God forgives and men forget,
And you're forgiven and forgotten.
You might be gaily sinning yet
And quick and fresh instead of rotten.
And when you think of love and fame
And all that might have come to pass,
Then don't you feel a little shame?
And don't you think you were an ass?"

Added: on January 2nd, 2005 at 4:34 PM | Viewed: 1859 times | Comments and analysis of To A Young Poet Who Killed Himself by Joyce Kilmer Comments (3)


To A Young Poet Who Killed Himself - Comments and Information

Poet: Joyce Kilmer
Poem: 13. To A Young Poet Who Killed Himself
Volume: Trees and Other Poems
Year: Published/Written in 1914

Comment 3 of 3, added on January 23rd, 2006 at 10:00 PM.

So this is amazing, and exactly what people should say any time someone commits suicide, because it's stupid. Okay. Done now.

Stapley from United States
Comment 2 of 3, added on May 29th, 2005 at 8:25 AM.

Harsh! But, right to the point, eh?

Julie Morgana from Canada
Comment 1 of 3, added on January 2nd, 2005 at 4:34 PM.

i like this poem!

a person

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