Finish
Finish - meaning Summary
Death Accepted Without Fuss
Sandburg’s short poem observes death with plain, pragmatic calm. The speaker asks for minimal ceremony—one bell or none, one song or silence—preferring simplicity over ritualized mourning. Repetition frames death as a single, inevitable event to be met without drama. The tone mixes colloquial voice and gentle insistence, suggesting acceptance, personal autonomy over posthumous gestures, and a wish that endings be uncluttered by excessive ceremony.
Read Complete AnalysesDEATH comes once, let it be easy. Ring one bell for me once, let it go at that. Or ring no bell at all, better yet. Sing one song if I die. Sing John Brown's Body or Shout All Over God's Heaven. Or sing nothing at all, better yet. Death comes once, let it be easy.
Feel free to be first to leave comment.