Death (2)

Death is here and death is there,

Death is busy everywhere,

All around, within, beneath,

Above is death—and we are death.

Death has set his mark and seal

On all we are and all we feel,

On all we know and all we fear,

••••••••

First our pleasures die— and then

Our hopes, and then our fears— and when

These are dead, the debt is due,

Dust claims dust—and we die too.

All things that we love and cherish,

Like ourselves must fade and perish;

Such is our rude mortal lot—

Love itself would, did they not.