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Life! I Know Not What Thou Art

Author: Anna Lætitia Barbauld

This Page Includes: Full Verses of the Poem in Text. A Recording of the Poem (Audio). A Free PDF Download for reading purposes. Free Editable Google Doc Download if you wish to make changes or to personalise the poem. The page also includes what the poem is about, structure of poem and explaining the best parts.

Life! I Know Not What Thou Art Poem Verses

Life! I know not what thou art,
But know that thou and I must part;
And when, or how, or where we met
I own to me's a secret yet.

Life! we've been long together
Through pleasant and through cloudy weather;
'Tis hard to part when friends are dear
Perhaps 'twill cost a sigh, a tear;

Then steal away, give little warning,
Choose thine own time;
Say not Good Night, but in some brighter clime
Bid me Good Morning.

Audio Recording

Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as 'Life! I Know Not What Thou Art' can be tailored/personalised

Download Poem

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Personalised Poem

Would you like to customise this poem? You have the option to personalise it by accessing the provided link, which will direct you to Google Docs. From there, you can download the poem ‘Memories’ to your personal Google Docs account or Microsoft Word where you will be able to edit the poem however you want.

Personalised Poem

About the poem

The poem reflects on the concept of life and how it is something that we all have to part with at some point. The speaker acknowledges that they don't fully understand what life is, but they have been in it for a long time. They acknowledge that it is difficult to part with friends, and it may bring sadness, but they encourage a peaceful departure without too much warning. Instead of saying "Good Night" as a final farewell, they suggest saying "Good Morning" in the hope of meeting again in a brighter, happier place after death.

The Structure of Poem

The poem consists of three stanzas, each with four lines. The structure is quite simple and the rhyme scheme is AABB. The poem uses personification of "life" and explores the speaker's feelings about the inevitability of death and their uncertainty about what comes after. The use of the phrase "Good Morning" in the final line gives a sense of hopefulness and suggests that the speaker believes in an afterlife.

Best Quote from Life! I Know Not What Thou Art Poem

This is a quote from the poem Life! I Know Not What Thou Art by Anna Lætitia Barbauld

"Life! we've been long together Through pleasant and through cloudy weather; 'Tis hard to part when friends are dear Perhaps 'twill cost a sigh, a tear"

This quote beautifully expresses the sentiment of how difficult it is to part with loved ones, even when it is time to say goodbye. The use of weather as a metaphor for the ups and downs of life, and the acknowledgement that parting may cause some sadness, makes it a poignant reminder of the preciousness of our relationships.