What is the flesh and blood compounded of But a few moments in the life of time? This prowling of the cells, litigious love, Wears the long claw of flesh-arguing crime.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Tate questions the composition of human life, suggesting it is brief and defined by biological and moral struggles. He uses imagery of cells and claws to depict life's contentious nature.
- In plain terms
- Life is short and filled with physical and moral struggles.
- What can you take from it?
- Human existence is brief and marked by internal conflict.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is life mostly struggle?
- What is the body?
Another view
The view may be overly pessimistic about human nature.
More from Allen Tate
They darted down and rose up like a wave Or buzzed impetuously as before; One would have thought the corpse was held a slave To living by the life it bore!
Permalink to quote #1 Now remember courage, go to the door, Open it and see whether coiled on the bed Or cringing by the wall, a savage beast Maybe with golden hair, with deep eyes …
Permalink to quote #3
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