Villanelle 5 'Death Goes A-Begging, Once We Pluck His Sting'

Death goes a-begging, once we pluck his sting! (Christ did it first, but we must do’t again!) In Imitation of Christ, laugh and sing! Though Christ has shot the arrow through the ring, Still we must live out parables, now and then, Death goes a-begging, once we pluck his sting! Though we fear passing, falcons on the wing… We dive, and bring the rabbit to our den, In Imitation of Christ, laugh and sing! Without fear, Death becomes but sound sleeping! Unfeared, Death holds in hand, no sword, nor pen, Death goes a-begging, once we pluck his sting! Bright day! We feel the bullet, our helmet, ping! And know, the Moment was postponed, again, In Imitation of Christ, laugh and sing! Be gentle, Pilgrim! Unto each one bring… At their last breath, the kind hand of a Friend, Death goes a-begging, once we pluck his sting! In Imitation of Christ, laugh and sing!