Death & Dying
The End
From Poems (1920)
After the blast of lightning from the east,
The flourish of loud clouds, the Chariot throne,
After the drums of time have rolled and ceased
And from the bronze west long retreat is blown,
Shall Life renew these bodies? Of a truth
All death will he annul, all tears assuage?
Or fill these void veins full again with youth
And wash with an immortal water age?
When I do ask white Age, he saith not so,--
"My head hangs weighed with snow."
And when I hearken to the Earth she saith
My fiery heart sinks aching. It is death.
Mine ancient scars shall not be glorified
Nor my titanic tears the seas be dried."
Codex Note
The poem asks whether Life will renew the dead and wash age with an immortal water. Age and Earth, asked in turn, both answer no.
Cite this poem
MLA
Owen, Wilfred. “The End.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/owen/23/.
Chicago
Owen, Wilfred. “The End.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/owen/23/.
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