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Softly Woo Away Her Breath

Author: Bryan Waller Procter

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.

Softly Woo Away Her Breath Poem Verses

Softly woo away her breath,
Gentle death!
Let her leave thee with no strife,
Tender, mournful, murmuring life!
She hath seen her happy day,—
She hath had her bud and blossom;
Now she pales and shrinks away,
Earth, into thy gentle bosom!

She hath done her bidding here,
Angels dear!
Bear her perfect soul above.
Seraph of the skies,—sweet love!
Good she was, and fair in youth;
And her mind was seen to soar.
And her heart was wed to truth:
Take her, then, forevermore,—
Forever—evermore—

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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

This poem, titled "Softly Woo Away Her Breath," is about death and the speaker's desire for the person to die peacefully, without struggle. The speaker addresses "gentle death" and asks for the dying person to be taken away without strife. The person has lived a full life, from youth to old age, and now it is time for her to depart. The speaker acknowledges the person's goodness and beauty in life and asks that her perfect soul be taken by the angels to the sky. The poem expresses the idea that death can be gentle and peaceful, and that the person's soul will continue to exist beyond the physical body.

The Structure of Poem

The poem consists of three stanzas of four lines each. The structure follows an ABAB rhyme scheme. The poem is written in a melancholic tone and is about a peaceful and gentle death. The poem personifies death as a loving and gentle force that peacefully takes away the soul of the deceased. The speaker mourns the passing of a young woman who had a good heart, a mind that soared, and was wed to truth. The final stanza has a repeated phrase that emphasizes the eternal nature of the afterlife.

Best Quote from Softly Woo Away Her Breath Poem

This is a quote from the poem Softly Woo Away Her Breath by Bryan Waller Procter

"Softly woo away her breath, Gentle death! Let her leave thee with no strife, Tender, mournful, murmuring life!"

This quote beautifully expresses the peaceful and gentle nature of death. It reminds us that death is a natural part of life and should be approached with tenderness and acceptance, rather than fear or resistance. The use of poetic language creates a sense of tranquility and calm, which can offer comfort to those who are grieving.