Is There Nothing Worse Than Death?

Gerard Manley Hopkins writes about death in his poem No Worst, There is None. He speaks about death as if there is nothing worse. He focuses on the anguish and torment of death. He seeks the comforter and receives none. I think he may be referring to the death of Christ.

In the first line we are introduced to the author’s position on death. “No worst, there is none. Pitched past pitch of grief.” (line 1) The author is devastated beyond grief over his loss. What makes me think this poem may be about Christ is his reference to Mary. “Mary, mother of us, where is your relief?” (line 4). He talks about the importance of the person who died “My cries heave, herds-long. Huddle in a main, a chief / Woe, world-sorrow; on an age-old anvil wince and sing -.” (line 5 & 6). The death of Christ would be a world sorrow and an age old anvil.” This is something we celebrate each year. Easter is an important part of our religious culture. His death before his resurrection was horrible. This is especially horrific, because we were responsible for his death. Our sins put him there. It wasn’t just for the sinners two thousand years ago, it was for everyone, for eternity. Because of Christ’s sacrifice we are sentenced to death each time we sin. “Wretch, under a comfort serves in a whirlwind: all / Life death does end and each day dies with sleep. Each day we sleep, our sins are forgiven and the death sentence released. We are forgiven each day for our transgressions. Christ’s death was a beautiful sacrifice to save humanity from itself. I think there are plenty of worse things than Christ’s death. His death allows me to live.

Is there anything worse than death? I think there can be. What about the shell of a woman that used to be my grandmother, who does not know who her children are? She gets no enjoyment out of life. She sits in her chair trapped, in her head full of memories. She is nearly 90 years old and legally blind. There is no relief for her except death. The worst for her is that her body won’t give up what her mental faculties have abandoned over a year ago. How can death be terrible for her? Is having a beating heart really mean we are living? It pains me to see life and death torturing her. Life for making her continue in this emaciated way, and death for staying just out of reach from her. When God does take her home, I will not be crying tears of grief. Those tears will be from the joy of knowing she has been released from her prison and finally free.