Poem - Death Be Not Proud by John Donne

This is one of my favorite poems (Frodo, make note: I want this read at my funeral and carved on my tombstone), and I struggled with when to post it. I didn't want to post it right off the bat since I wanted to sprinkle truly brilliant poems throughout the month and not post them all up front. (Plus, I didn't want to scare everyone off with a poem about death on the first day.) Then I thought that I would then save it for Good Friday. I would post it earlier under only one circumstance and that circumstance has come to pass, so I am posting it today... a day earlier than I hoped.

If you visit Angel's blog, Aduladi & Co., you know that her grandmother had been sick with cancer for some time and that her health had deteriorated quite a bit over the last couple of weeks. Angel was able to spend this past weekend with her grandmother, and her grandmother's wish to go home was granted on Tuesday. Angel called me this morning to let me know that her grandmother's prayer to pass from this world at home in her own bed and in her sleep had been answered. But do not despair. Rejoice! She now no longer holds dual citizenship in this world and the new. She has become a permanent resident in her Father's house!


Death Be Not Proud
by 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 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 than thy stroake; why swell'st thou then;
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.

*Please keep Angel and her family in your prayers. She has termed today her "day of death" because before learning of her grandmother's passing from death to life, she had scheduled to have their 15 year old cat put to sleep this afternoon. They have decided to keep the appoinment, so this and the coming days will prove very stressful for them all. Praise God that in a few short days we will celebrate Resurrection Sunday! In that, there is joy.