In Memoriam A. H. H.: 82. I wage not any feud with death

I wage not any feud with Death
For changes wrought on form and face;
No lower life that earth's embrace


May breed with him, can fright my faith.

Eternal process moving on,
From state to state the spirit walks;
And these are but the shatter'd stalks,


Or ruin'd chrysalis of one.

Nor blame I Death, because he bare
The use of virtue out of earth:
I know transplanted human worth


Will bloom to profit, otherwhere.

For this alone on Death I wreak
The wrath that garners in my heart;
He put our lives so far apart


We cannot hear each other speak.