Poem by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

The House of Life. Sonnet 72. The Choice - 2

Watch thou and fear: to-morrow thou shalt die.
Or art thou sure thou shalt have time for death?
Is not the day which God's word promiseth
To come man knows not when? In yonder sky,
Now while we speak, the sun speeds forth: can I
Or thou assure him of his goal? God's breath
Even at the moment haply quickeneth
The air to a flame; till spirits, always nigh
Though screened and hid, shall walk the daylight here.
And dost thou prate of all that man shall do ?
Canst thou, who hast but plagues, presume to be
Glad in his gladness that comes after thee?
Will his strength slay thy worm in Hell ? Go to:
Cover thy countenance, and watch, and fear.

1. The House of Life. Sonnet 35. The Lamp's Shrine
2. The House of Life. Sonnet 82. Hoarded Joy
3. The House of Life. Sonnet 90. «Retro Me, Sathana!»
4. The House of Life. Sonnet 40. Severed Selves
5. The House of Life. Sonnet 70. The Hill Summit

Print

1808 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version