It must be so--Plato, thou reasonest well!--
Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire,
This longing read more

It must be so--Plato, thou reasonest well!--
Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire,
This longing after immortality?
Or whence this secret dread, and inward horror,
O falling into nought? Why shrinks the soul
Back on herself, and startles at destruction?
'Tis the divinity that stirs within us;
'Tis heaven itself, that points out an hereafter,
And intimates eternity to man.

I long to believe in immortality. . . . If I am destined to be
happy with you here--how read more

I long to believe in immortality. . . . If I am destined to be
happy with you here--how short is the longest life. I wish to
believe in immortality--I wish to live with you forever.

Poets have said that the reason to have children is to give yourself immortality. Immortality? Now that I have five read more

Poets have said that the reason to have children is to give yourself immortality. Immortality? Now that I have five children, my only hope is that they are all out of the house before I die.

No, no, I'm sure,
My restless spirit never could endure
To brood so long upon one luxury,
read more

No, no, I'm sure,
My restless spirit never could endure
To brood so long upon one luxury,
Unless it did, though fearfully, espy
A hope beyond the shadow of a dream.

On the cold cheek of Death smiles and roses are blending,
And beauty immortal awakes from the tomb.

On the cold cheek of Death smiles and roses are blending,
And beauty immortal awakes from the tomb.

I don't want to achieve immortality through my work; I want to
achieve immortality through not dying.

I don't want to achieve immortality through my work; I want to
achieve immortality through not dying.

'Tis true; 'tis certain; man though dead retains
Part of himself; the immortal mind remains.

'Tis true; 'tis certain; man though dead retains
Part of himself; the immortal mind remains.

Thus God's children are immorall whiles their
Father hath anything for them to do on earth.

Thus God's children are immorall whiles their
Father hath anything for them to do on earth.

The muse does not allow the praise-de-serving here to die: she
enthrones him in the heavens.
[Lat., Dignum read more

The muse does not allow the praise-de-serving here to die: she
enthrones him in the heavens.
[Lat., Dignum laude virum Musa vetat mori;
Coelo Musa beat.]