It feels a shame to be Alive —

It feels a shame to be Alive —
When Men so brave — are dead —
One envies the Distinguished Dust —
Permitted — such a Head —

The Stone — that tells defending Whom
This Spartan put away
What little of Him we — possessed
In Pawn for Liberty —

The price is great — Sublimely paid —
Do we deserve — a Thing —
That lives — like Dollars — must be piled
Before we may obtain?

Are we that wait — sufficient worth —
That such Enormous Pearl
As life — dissolved be — for Us —
In Battle’s — horrid Bowl?

It may be — a Renown to live —
I think the Man who die —
Those unsustained — Saviors —
Present Divinity —

Emily Dickinson

The Battle of Thermopylae

It feels a shame to be Alive —
When so brave Men are dead —
One envies the Honored Dust —
Allowed to touch such a Head —

The Stone tells this Spartan
Defending his people
What little of Him we — possessed
In Exchange for Liberty —

The great price is Completely paid —
Do we deserve — a Thing —
That lives must be piles like Dollars
Before we may obtain?

Are we sufficient worth —
Who hide when such Enormous Pearl
As life be dissolved for Us —
In Battle’s dreadful valley?

It may be — a Renown to live —
I think the Man who die —
Those unsupported — Saviors —
Show godlike nature —

In the Battle of Thermopylae, the Spartan king Leonidas and his life guards fought with hundred times as many as Persian army and fell valiantly in the valley.