The Book of Jade · Chapter
Song: Cometh a Day and a Night explained
The poem envisions a time of death and decay when life's vitality fades, peace is replaced by oblivion, and the body yields to the grave.
What happens
The poem envisions a time of death and decay when life's vitality fades, peace is replaced by oblivion, and the body yields to the grave. It speaks of an end that comes for one who possesses all, only to be claimed by death.
Themes in this chapter
Death and Decay
The poem centers on the inevitable arrival of death, with imagery of dim lamps, poppies, lilies, and worms consuming the body.
Vanity of Human Endeavor
All possessions and beauty are ultimately surrendered to death, underscoring the futility of earthly striving.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“Cometh a day and a night, When the lamps of life burn dim, When peace is secur’d for delight, And poppies for the red-rose flower”
A time will come when life's energy fades, and instead of joy there is only the peace of oblivion, with poppies replacing the vibrant rose.
The speaker foresees a shift from vitality to a deathlike stillness.
“Cometh the end of the years, When the cheeks have the lilies’ bloom, When slumber is given for tears, And the breasts to the worm belong”
The end of life arrives when the face takes on the pale color of lilies, tears are replaced by eternal sleep, and the body becomes food for worms.
Death is portrayed as a pale, silent decay.
“Cometh a day and a night For him to whom all is thrown, Whose own is the bosom white, Whose own are the lips of gold; For him to whom all is thrown, Cometh a day and a night, To have and to own and to hold.”
For the one who possesses everything—beauty, wealth, and love—there still comes a day and night when death claims him, and he is finally and fully possessed by the grave.
Even the most fortunate cannot escape death's ultimate ownership.