Tag Archives: Poetry about Death

“Christmas Tree” by James Merrill

James Merrill writes on his own end of life through the perspective of a Christmas tree

Wound in lights, heavy with ornaments and heirlooms, photos of children now grown up or parents no longer here, the Christmas tree brightens the living room. It fills the floor with needles and scents the air with pine. Becomes a … Continue reading

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“When Death Comes” by Mary Oliver

The role of realizations in Mary Oliver's "When Death Comes"

They say the best revenge is living well, and in Mary Oliver’s “When Death Comes,” this is exactly the attitude the poet takes—against death itself. Oliver has an antagonistic view of death, comparing it to a “hungry bear in autumn” … Continue reading

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