Death Be Not Proud

"Death, be not proud, though some have called thee 
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;  
For those whom thou think'st thou dost over throw  
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.  
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,  
Much pleasure - then, from thee much more must flow;  
And soonest our best men with thee do go,  
Rest of their bones and soul's delivery.  
Thou'rt slave to fate, chance, kings and desperate men,  
And dost with poison, war and sickness dwell;  
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well,  
And better than thy stroke.  Why swell'st thou then? 
 short sleep past, we wake eternally,  
And death shall be no more.  Death thou shalt die. "

 -John Donne 1572-1631