Clareified

Dear Angela,

This is probably the “hardest” poem I’ve picked so far. It’s the kinda poem cited by people who hate poetry. But, as we approach the 8th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York City, I thought this poem was appropo. It’s hard to believe that it’s been so long, and yet the culpable have not been brought to justice and there is still a gaping scar on the face of my city.
I like this poem for the idea that the people death thinks it has triumphed over and taken -our grandpas and cousins and childhood pop idols – are not really gone at all. And that one day, we all we defeat death forever.
My favorite part of this poem, though, is that Donne goes one step beyond saying that death is nothing to fear, he straight up calls death a scared little punk who hangs out with drugs and poisons and is dependent on the whims of kings. Take that, death!
That’s how I feel about the notion of suicide bombers and terrorists – both foreign and domestic – they bring no ideas or faiths or beliefs – only death. Why? Because they are bitch ass punks. So, I hope you’ll look pass the funny spellings and odd syntax. It’s good! I promise.

Your friendster,

Dawn J. Summers

Death be not proud -John Donne

DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think’st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell’st thou then;
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.

This entry was posted by Dawn Summers on Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 at 8:10 am and is filed under Poetry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.