I <br />DEATH, if thou wilt, fain would I plead with thee: <br />Canst thou not spare, of all our hopes have built, <br />One shelter where our spirits fain would be, <br /> Death, if thou wit? <br /> <br />No dome with suns and dews impearled and gilt, <br />Imperial: but some roof of wildwood tree, <br />Too mean for sceptre's heft or swordblade's hilt. <br /> <br />Some low sweet roof where love might live, set free <br />From change and fear and dreams of grief or guilt; <br />Canst thou not leave life even thus much to see, <br /> Death, if thou wilt? <br /> <br /> II <br />Man, what art thou to speak and plead with me? <br />What knowest thou of my workings, where and how <br />What things I fashion? Nay, behold and see, <br /> Man, what art thou? <br /> <br />Thy fruits of life, and blossoms of thy bough, <br />What are they but my seedlings? Earth and sea <br />Bear nought but when I breathe on it must bow. <br /> <br />Bow thou too down before me: though thou be <br />Great, all the pride shall fade from off thy brow, <br />When Time and strong Oblivion ask of thee, <br /> Man, what art thou ? <br /> <br /> III <br />Death, if thou be or be not, as was said, <br />Immortal; if thou make us nought, or we <br />Survive: thy power is made but of our dread, <br /> Death, if thou be. <br /> <br />Thy might is made out of our fear of thee: <br />Who fears thee not, hath plucked from off thine head <br />The crown of cloud that darkens earth and sea. <br /> <br />Earth, sea, and sky, as rain or vapour shed, <br />Shall vanish; all the shows of them shall flee: <br />Then shall we know full surely, quick or dead, <br /> Death, if thou be.<br /><br />Algernon Charles Swinburne<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-dialogue-2/
