Death & Dying
The Epitaph
Death & Dying
Here, five feet deep, lies on his back
A cobbler, starmonger, and quack;
Who to the stars, in pure good will,
Does to his best look upward still.
Weep, all you customers that use
His pills, his almanacks, or shoes;
And you that did your fortunes seek,
Step to his grave but once a-week;
This earth, which bears his body's print,
You'll find has so much virtue in't,
That I durst pawn my ears, 'twill tell
Whate'er concerns you full as well,
In physic, stolen goods, or love,
As he himself could, when above.
Cite this poem
MLA
Swift, Jonathan. “The Epitaph.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/swift/32/.
Chicago
Swift, Jonathan. “The Epitaph.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/swift/32/.
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