Death Be Not Proud

There is famous poem of john donne -Death Be Not Proud.. the format and style of this this poem reminds katha upanishad.. one of the prominent upanishad from the 10 upanishad group. swami vivekananda use to adore katha upanishad much. and bhagavat gita is rooted directly to katha upanishad. 

The very concept of upanishadic teaching is, real self don't have birth and death.. katha upanishad describes significance of death very lightly, like this "From the fear of Self, fire burns; from the fear of Self, the sun shines; from the fear of Self, Indra and Vayu and Death, the fifth, flee"

katha upanishad describes further about death- "Who, then, knows where He is—He to whom Brahmins and kshattriyas are mere food and death itself a condiment? " So Death is not even a food for the knower, its only an appetizer or a flavour (mrityusa upasechanam)...knower is fearless so death cannot terrorize him.

This concept about death, john donne also expressing it in this poem, and its great poem.I like to share it with people who have not read it

"Death be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not soe,

For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,

Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill mee.

From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,

Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,

And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,

Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.

Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,

And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,

And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,

And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then?

One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,

And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die"