Tichborne´s Elegy

Think of the 16th-century anthology piece „Tichborne’s Elegy,“ which was apparently written by Chidiock Tichborne (c. 1568-1586), an 18-year-old Catholic conspirator against Queen Elizabeth, the night before his execution. The title was supplied by an early publisher.

My prime of youth is but a frost of cares,
My feast of joy is but a dish of pain,
My crop of corn is but a field of tares,
And all my good is but vain hope of gain;
The day is past, and yet I saw no sun,
And now I live, and now my life is done.
My tale was heard and yet it was not told,
My fruit is fallen and yet my leaves are green,
My youth is spent and yet I am not old,
I saw the world and yet I was not seen…

/ Edward Hirsch, Poet´s Choice, The Washington Post 18.9.03 – – –
Hier ein Gedichtzyklus von Hirsch,

„Two Suitcases of Children’s Drawings
from Terezin, 1942-1944„
by Edward Hirsch
The American Poetry Review
Volume 31, Number 5
September/October 2002