Life
Barry Cornwall
1787 to 1874
We are born; we laugh; we weep;
We love; we droop, we die!
Ah! wherefore do we laugh or weep?
Why do we live or die?
Who knows that secret deep?
Alas, not I!
Why doth the violet spring
Unseen by human eye?
Why do the radiant seasons bring
Sweet thoughts that quickly fly?
Why do our fond hearts cling
To things that die?
We toil - through pain and wrong;
We fight - and fly;
We love; we lose; and then, ere long,
Stone-dead we lie.
Of Life! is all thy song
"Endure and - die?"
Barry Cornwall's Life
I am busy working to bring Barry Cornwall's "Life" to life through some unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you later.
In the meantime, I invite you to explore the poem's themes, structure, and meaning. You can also check out the gallery for other musical arrangements or learn more about Barry Cornwall's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "Life" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.
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