The Warning, from Death’s Jest Book by Thomas Lovell Beddoes
As sudden thunder
Pierces night;
As magic wonder,
Wild affright,
Rives asunder
Men’s delight:
Our ghost, our corpse and we
Rise to be.
As flies the lizard
Serpent fell;
As goblin vizard,
At the spell
Of pale wizard,
Sinks to hell:
Our life, our laugh, our lay
Pass away.
As wake the morning
Trumpets bright;
As snow-drop, scorning
Winter’s might,
Rises warning
Like a sprite:
We buried, dead, and slain
Rise again.
Darkling, I Listen 