Alexander Pope

Author's Note: This a poetic mirror of Alexander Pope's The Dying Christian to His Soul. This is an open poem that has an AABBCC rhyming pattern. Pope often uses fictional beliefs for his poetic platform, but it is based on real events. For example, The Rape of the Lock, it speaks of sprites and other legendary beings, but it was about a fight that spurred between his acquaintances. In this poem he talks about a conversation that one would have with their spirit while dying, but it is based on the moral values of a Christian about to die. The above poem is written by Pope, and the lower is my effort at copying it.

The Dying Christian to His Soul

Vital spark of heav’nly flame!

Quit, O quit this mortal frame:

Trembling, hoping, ling’ring, flying,

O the pain, the bliss of dying!

Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife,

And let me languish into life.

Hark! they whisper; angels say,

Sister Spirit, come away!

What is this absorbs me quite?

Steals my senses, shuts my sight,

Drowns my spirits, draws my breath?

Tell me, my soul, can this be death?

The world recedes; it disappears!

Heav’n opens on my eyes! my ears

With sounds seraphic ring!

Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly!

O Grave! where is thy vict'ry?

O Death! where is thy sting?

The Sinner on His Deathbed

Needed light of earthly shine

Stop, O stop this state, divine

Waiting, wanting, staying, shaking

O the joy, the love of waking

Stay, thou Man, stay in life

And let me lay, through my strife

Stay! It whispers; that I say,

Brother Spirit, stay O stay!

What be this consumes me whole?

Captures my senses, drowns my soul

Kills my spirits, takes my breath?

Now, my spirit, can this be death?

The world advances, it appears!

Earth opens to my sight! My ears

Full of earthly grinding!

Give, give your horse! Myself minding!

O Grave! Show me it, thy loss

O Death! Show me thy cross

 

Alexander Pope lived in the Baroque time period. It was one greatly influenced by the fine arts, so Pope had many writers from which to study, including William Wycherley. Pope was born in Britain as a Roman Catholic, and stayed one throughout his life. When Pope was born, Penal Law was in effect throughout Britain. This disallowed any Roman Catholics to go to university, hold a public office, or teach. Because of this Law, the Pope family outcast from formal society. When outcast, the Pope family moved to the country, where Alexander lived most of his life. Through his life, and starting very early, Alexander encountered many health problems, including, Pott's disease. Pott's disease, is a form of tuberculosis that effects the bone. This made him a hunchback from age 12, and made his bones too weak to do any semi-strenuous physical activity. Even towards the end of his life, he was never taller than 4'6''. When Pope needed an outlet, he looked to writing, and it soon became his life.