Death Poems

There are many, many, many poems about death.  In different cultures it is a tradition for literate people to write a poem near the time of one's own death.  You see this often especially in China, Korea and Japan (beginning around 600 A.D.).  Enjoy this poem by Carl Sandburg:

Death Snips Proud Men by Carl Sandburg

DEATH is stronger than all the governments because the governments are men and men die and then death laughs: Now you see ’em, now you don’t.

Death is stronger than all proud men and so death snips proud men on the nose, throws a pair of dice and says: Read ’em and weep.

Death sends a radiogram every day: When I want you I’ll drop in—and then one day he comes with a master-key and lets himself in and says: We’ll go now.

Death is a nurse mother with big arms: ’Twon’t hurt you at all; it’s your time now; you just need a long sleep, child; what have you had anyhow better than sleep?