e. e. cummings

(1894-1962)

Who's Most Afraid of Death?

(1925)

who’s most afraid of death? thou
                                  art of him
utterly afraid, i love of thee
(beloved) this

                      and truly i would be
near when his scythe takes crisply the whim
of thy smoothness. and mark the fainting
murdered petals. with the caving stem.

But of all most would i be one of them

round the hurt heart which do so frailly cling….)
i who am but imperfect in my fear

Or with thy mind against my mind,to hear
nearing our hearts’ irrevocable play—
through the mysterious high futile day

an enormous stride
                      (and drawing thy mouth toward

my mouth,steer our lost bodies carefully downward.

"Scythe" in poem above serves as a metaphor and symbol of death, which itself sometimes serves as a metaphor for sex.