A Century of Roundels/Death and Birth

←One of Twain

A Century of Roundels by Algernon Charles Swinburne Death and Birth

Birth and Death→

DEATH AND BIRTH. Death and birth should dwell not near together: Wealth keeps house not, even for shame, with dearth: Fate doth ill to link in one brief tether  Death and birth. Harsh the yoke that binds them, strange the girth Seems that girds them each with each: yet whether Death be best, who knows, or life on earth? Ill the rose-red and the sable feather Blend in one crown's plume, as grief with mirth: Ill met still are warm and wintry weather,  Death and birth.