skeleton
by Chesterton · Cluster: Mortality · Grave · Memento Mori
Abstract
A short lyric in which Death laughs among the flowers, revealing death as ‘the good King’s jest’ hidden carefully by God. A joyful, paradoxical meditation on mortality.
Testo / Text
Connections
Archetypes: King
Settings: Grave (2)
Topoi: Memento Mori Motifs: Flowers, Birds, Insects Themes & Concepts: Mortality, Joy, Paradox, Secrecy and Concealment, Providence Forms & Genres: Lyric, Epigram Characters: Death Personified
Testo integrale / Full text
The Skeleton
Chattering finch and water-fly
Are not merrier than I;
Here among the flowers I lie
Laughing everlastingly.
No; I may not tell the best;
Surely, friends, I might have guessed
Death was but the good King’s jest,
It was hid so carefully.
G.K. CHESTERTON