Drowning is not so pitiful
Drowning is not so pitiful
As the attempt to rise.
Three times, ‘t is said, a sinking man
Comes up to face the skies,
And then declines forever
To that abhorred abode
Where hope and he part company,—
For he is grasped of God.
The Maker’s cordial visage,
However good to see,
Is shunned, we must admit it,
Like an adversity.
Emily Dickinson (1830 – 1886)
This is all about accepting death when death is inevitable. It is part of human nature to fight for survival. So is our attempt to maintain life to the very end pitiful.
Dylan Thomas has a villanelle in the opposition direction as portrayed by the first lines of his well-known poem – ‘Do not go gentle into that good night’. He commands us to rage against impending death – ‘Old age should burn and rave at close of day’.
The question is when to be accepting of approaching death and view death not as an adversity but as a welcome friend. There is a time to be submissive and a time to burn and rave to squeeze the most out of life. Only at the very last is the former more appropriate – a matter of judgement.
The ED poem implies that death will be the meeting of the cordial visage of our creator. We are inclined to be negative despite the great goodness in God. But didn’t the bible say something along the lines that each hair on your head is of concern and not to be afraid. So do do not worry if you are having a bad hair!
I have taken a view in line with Emily Dickinson in my reply below to the Dylan villanelle, however I have taken a more gentle approach, rather than the pitiful reproach of Emily Dickinson –
Go Gentle and Enjoy Your Last Day
go gentle and enjoy your last day
focus not on the loss of your sight
give a smile as you pass quietly away
a wise man knows how to play
knows exactly what is indeed right
go gentle and enjoy your last day
a good man accepts the pathway
as he enters the door of the night
give a smile as you pass quietly away
a brave man shows strong display
knows it useless in giving a fight
go gentle and enjoy your last day
a grave man will rise up to say
‘the end is turning quite bright’
give a smile as you pass quietly away
so to all I earnestly pray
savour the disappearing light
go gentle and enjoy your last day
give a smile as you pass quietly away
Richard Scutter
… A link to Emily Dickinson on Wikipedia.
my word in your ear 
I particularly like your gentle approach rather than Emily Dickinson’s perspective. Savouring each gifted day, then walking uprightly into the promised peace . Home.