HOW DID YOU DIE?
By Edmund Vance Cooke
Did you tackle that trouble that came your way
With a resolute heart and cheerful?
Or hide your face from the light of day
With 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?
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Published by The grey clover
Welcome to The grey clover. My name is Mayowa. I'm a physiotherapy student. I am also a lover of Literature, Arts, Science and technology. I have several interests which includes writing poetry, photography, fashion designing and there are still much more things I hope to learn. Thanks for stopping by!
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The grey clover 
Two things to pnder from this:
(1) ‘the world of men’ – I guess ‘men’ is used here in the inclusive sense to mean men and women.
(2) ‘It isn’t the fact that you’re dead that counts,
But only how did you die?’ Surely how you lived counts even more!
Thanks for the follow.
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Yes. I’m glad you picked those two things. I think how you live counts a lot and it may even have an effect on how you die. My first time reading the poem made me think about a lot of things we do in our lives. Thank you for reading through and sharing your thoughts
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