The Day Before I Die
The Day Before I Die - meaning Summary
Regret and Last Affection
The speaker imagines writing his final lines at the last minute and reflects on wasted time, drink, and neglected work. He balances regret for unfulfilled purpose with tenderness toward a loved one whose patience and affection make his final moments bearable. The poem mixes rueful self-awareness and quiet intimacy, presenting death as an imminent, ordinary endpoint that sharpens both remorse and the value of personal connection.
Read Complete AnalysesThere’s such a lot of work to do, for such a troubled head! I’m scribbling this against a book, with foolscap round, in bed. It strikes me that I’ll scribble much in this way by and by, And write my last lines so perchance the day before I die. There’s lots of things to come and go, and I, in careless rhyme, And drink and love (it wastes the most) have wasted lots of time. There’s so much good work to be done it makes me sure that I Will be the sorriest for my death, the day before I die. But, lift me dear, for I am tired, and let me taste the wine And lay your cheek a little while on this lined cheek of mine. I want to say I love you so your patient love is why I’ll have such little time, you know, the day before I die.
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