102. BY A BIER-SIDE

This is a sacred city built of marvellous earth.

Life was lived nobly here to give such beauty birth.

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Beauty was in this brain and in this eager hand:

Death is so blind and dumb Death does not understand.

Death drifts the brain with dust and soils the young limbs' glory,

Death makes justice a dream, and strength a traveller's story.

Death drives the lovely soul to wander under the sky.

Death opens unknown doors. It is most grand to die.

_John Masefield._

Poems of To-Day: an Anthology · 第 109 / 161 题