Michael Drayton "Since there's no help, come let us kiss and part"
Since there’s no help, come let us kiss and part;
Nay, I have done, you get no more of me,
And I am glad, yea, glad with all my heart
That thus so cleanly I myself can free;
Shake hands for ever, cancel all our vows,
And when we meet at any time again,
Be it not seen in either of our brows
That we one jot of former love retain.
Now at the last gasp of Love’s latest breath,
When, his pulse failing, Passion speechless lies,
When Faith is keeling by his bed of death,
And innocence is closing up his eyes,
Now if thou wouldst, when all have given him over,
From death to life mightst him yet recover.
This poem has so much emotion for me that I could not resist but place it in my Anthology. The speaker is explaining that their love is going to pass away and there is nothing that can be done at this time. The two individuals in the poem are married, and the person dying is stating that their vows will then be done (due to “death due them part”), and this will be their long goodbye. This poem speaks volumes about how the person is dying and the love and compassion that is felt at the last moments of life. The reason why this poem is so dear to me is because it reminds me of my grandparents. With my grandfather passing away, he spoke to all the children and grandchildren because he knew he was going to die. It was with his last bit of sanity left that he wanted for us to say our last goodbyes to him. I love the way the writer expressed this situation, and will never forget it.