Last week someone died who I didn't personally know but many of my friends did. A friend posted the line "Death be not proud" and it had me wondering the origin of this line was from? Turns out this poem by John Donne from the late 1500s to early 1600s was inspired by the new testament specifically 1 Corinthians 15:26, "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death"
The poem is about how death is not to be feared, and that people will wake up eternally after death.
Another friend wrote about the same person who passed away that this individual was never the same after his father and brother died. I feel the same way. I'm not the same since Baba and Mom died.
"Holy Sonnet X"
Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not soe,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill mee.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and souls deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better than thy stroake; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.
