Suicide's Argument, The

Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1772 (Ottery St Mary) – 1834 (Highgate)



Ere the birth of my life, if I wished it or no
No question was asked me--it could not be so !
If the life was the question, a thing sent to try
And to live on be YES; what can NO be ? to die.

     NATURE'S ANSWER

Is't returned, as 'twas sent ? Is't no worse for the wear ?
Think first, what you ARE ! Call to mind what you WERE !
I gave you innocence, I gave you hope,
Gave health, and genius, and an ample scope,
Return you me guilt, lethargy, despair ?
Make out the invent'ry ; inspect, compare !
Then die--if die you dare !

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

32 sec read
132

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABB CXDDCCC
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 523
Words 103
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 4, 7

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an English poet, literary critic and philosopher who, with his friend William Wordsworth, was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poets. more…

All Samuel Taylor Coleridge poems | Samuel Taylor Coleridge Books

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