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Poem
November 25, 1857
The Day Book
Norfolk, Virginia
What is this article about?
The speaker contemplates dying in different seasons and times of day but is deterred by their beauties, ultimately leaving the timing to angels.
Clipping
OCR Quality
100%
Excellent
Full Text
THE TIME TO DIE.
I would like to die in Spring time,
If the flowers bloomed not so gay ;
And the birds, returning to us,
Sang not sweetly all the day.
Or I'd like to die in Summer,
If her gentle, fragrant breath
Sported not so softly round me,
Wooing me from thoughts of death.
I would like to die in Autumn,
But I could not bear to have
Chilling winds come sadly moaning
Round my newly covered grave.
I would like to die in Winter,
If'twere not for all its glee ;
If the bells and sleighs and snow storm
Passed it not so merrily.
I would gladly die at morning,
But I always waken then
And I would not need so soon
Thus to fall asleep again.
I would like to die at evening,
But the stars are in the sky,
And I love them, and their voices
Whisper, "Dear one, do not die."
So I'll leave it to the angels.
When they are sent to bear me home,
And whene'er I hear them singing
I'll be ready then to come.
I would like to die in Spring time,
If the flowers bloomed not so gay ;
And the birds, returning to us,
Sang not sweetly all the day.
Or I'd like to die in Summer,
If her gentle, fragrant breath
Sported not so softly round me,
Wooing me from thoughts of death.
I would like to die in Autumn,
But I could not bear to have
Chilling winds come sadly moaning
Round my newly covered grave.
I would like to die in Winter,
If'twere not for all its glee ;
If the bells and sleighs and snow storm
Passed it not so merrily.
I would gladly die at morning,
But I always waken then
And I would not need so soon
Thus to fall asleep again.
I would like to die at evening,
But the stars are in the sky,
And I love them, and their voices
Whisper, "Dear one, do not die."
So I'll leave it to the angels.
When they are sent to bear me home,
And whene'er I hear them singing
I'll be ready then to come.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Nature Seasons
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Death
Seasons
Angels
Mortality
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Poem Details
Title
The Time To Die.
Subject
Meditation On The Time Of Death
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas
Key Lines
I Would Like To Die In Spring Time,
So I'll Leave It To The Angels.
When They Are Sent To Bear Me Home,