Dreaming of Death

Dreaming of Death written by William Henry Davies

From "Songs of Joy", 1911

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When I, awake, have thoughts of Death,
Two friends can ease me of my grief:
First comes Philosophy, who says,
"Fear brings Death soon, and Life is brief;"
Then comes Old Age with looks so calm,
In spite of Death, and he so near,
That when I see his happy face,
It banishes my fear.

But when in sleep I dream of Death,
Fear cuts me then with a sharp knife:
The Death that comes to me in dreams,
Is but to feel a stronger life;
For only my poor body dies,
My mind is still to this life bound;
I hear the merry world go by,
But cannot make a sound.

This work is in the public domain in countries where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or less.