How Did You Die?
Edmund Vance Cooke
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Background
Background
Edmund Vance Cooke was a Canadian 19th- and 20th-century poet. He is best known for his inspirational verse "How Did You Die?" Cooke was born in Port Dover, Ontario on June 5, 1866 and died in Cleveland, Ohio on December 18, 1932.
Poem and Annotations
Poem and Annotations
Did you tackle that trouble that came your wayWith a resolute heart and cheerful?Or hide your face from the light of dayWith a craven soul and fearful?Oh, a trouble's a ton, or a trouble's an ounce,Or a trouble is what you make it,And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,But only how did you take it?
You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that?Come up with a smiling face.It's nothing against you to fall down flat,But to lie there -- that's disgrace.The harder you're thrown, why the higher you bounce;Be proud of your blackened eye!It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts,It's how did you fight -- and why?
And though you be done to the death, what then?If you battled the best you could,If you played your part in the world of men,Why, the Critic will call it good.Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,And whether he's slow or spry,It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts,But only how did you die?
You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that?Come up with a smiling face.It's nothing against you to fall down flat,But to lie there -- that's disgrace.The harder you're thrown, why the higher you bounce;Be proud of your blackened eye!It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts,It's how did you fight -- and why?
And though you be done to the death, what then?If you battled the best you could,If you played your part in the world of men,Why, the Critic will call it good.Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce,And whether he's slow or spry,It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts,But only how did you die?
Analysis
Analysis
"How Did You Die?" is a poem about death and the amount of control people let it have over them. In the poem, Cooke asks the reader "how did you die?" People like to avoid the concept of death and let it hold more control over them than it really has. If someone simply changed their perspective about death, it would not have the influence that it currently possesses. The reason for which someone dies is so much more important than the death itself. The tone of this poem is empowering.
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