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Literary
June 7, 1834
The Liberator
Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
What is this article about?
A romantic poem by H.C. Deakin rejecting metaphors of life's transience, denying death's claim on his beloved's beauty, and affirming that the virtuous never die through divine assurance.
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Full Text
LITERARY.
THEY TELL ME LIFE, &c.
BY H. C. DEAKIN, ESQ.
They tell me life is like a stream that seeks the ocean shore;
They tell me life is like a flower, that blooms but to decay;
If so, then life is only death, in holiday array!
But ah! I cannot think thy brow, my beautiful and bright!
Is but the seat where death enthroned feeds on thine eye of light;
Nor can I think that thy dear cheek, so redolent of bloom,
Is damasked only to attract the despot of the tomb.
For have not on thy brow, my love, my fond lips often been prest?
And have I not in rapture oft reclined upon thy breast?
And ah! how often have thy lips to thy betrothed's flowed!
They tasted not of death, my love! I felt them but mine own!
Out on the withering thought, that dooms such lustre to the grave!
I say, 'tis false, for unto me, Heaven all thy beauty gave.
Away! away! I give to Death, to despot Death the lie,
For God himself in love has said, 'the virtuous never die.'
THEY TELL ME LIFE, &c.
BY H. C. DEAKIN, ESQ.
They tell me life is like a stream that seeks the ocean shore;
They tell me life is like a flower, that blooms but to decay;
If so, then life is only death, in holiday array!
But ah! I cannot think thy brow, my beautiful and bright!
Is but the seat where death enthroned feeds on thine eye of light;
Nor can I think that thy dear cheek, so redolent of bloom,
Is damasked only to attract the despot of the tomb.
For have not on thy brow, my love, my fond lips often been prest?
And have I not in rapture oft reclined upon thy breast?
And ah! how often have thy lips to thy betrothed's flowed!
They tasted not of death, my love! I felt them but mine own!
Out on the withering thought, that dooms such lustre to the grave!
I say, 'tis false, for unto me, Heaven all thy beauty gave.
Away! away! I give to Death, to despot Death the lie,
For God himself in love has said, 'the virtuous never die.'
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
Soliloquy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mortality
Love Romance
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Life Death Metaphor
Beloved Beauty
Immortality Virtue
Romantic Denial
Divine Promise
What entities or persons were involved?
By H. C. Deakin, Esq.
Literary Details
Title
They Tell Me Life, &C.
Author
By H. C. Deakin, Esq.
Key Lines
They Tell Me Life Is Like A Stream That Seeks The Ocean Shore;
They Tell Me Life Is Like A Flower, That Blooms But To Decay;
For God Himself In Love Has Said, 'The Virtuous Never Die.'