Home » Famous Poems » John Clare » What Is Life?

What Is Life?

Read 'What Is Life?' by 'John Clare' and provide your summary and literary analysis in the comments section below.

What Is Life? by John Clare

 Resembles Life what once was held of Light,
Too ample in itself for human sight ?
An absolute Self--an element ungrounded--
All, that we see, all colours of all shade
[Image]By encroach of darkness made ?--
Is very life by consciousness unbounded ?
And all the thoughts, pains, joys of mortal breath,
A war-embrace of wrestling Life and Death ?

Form: Lyric

♡Like0

Comments

Related Articles

Comments About This Poem

Share your interpretation, favorite passage, or thoughts about this famous poem. Please provide an in-depth and meaningful comment.

What do you think the poet was trying to say?
Which line had the biggest impact on you?
How does this poem relate to modern life?
What literary devices did you notice?

No comments have been posted yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.

Get a Premium Membership

Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.

Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace