# Song: Cometh a Day and a Night explained — The Book of Jade

> Chapter companion for The Book of Jade by David Park Barnitz.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker describes the coming of death and decay.

### Death

Implied as the force that brings the day and night when life ends.

## Key lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_jade_se/chapters/part-i-song-cometh-a-day-and-a-night
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_jade_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_book_of_jade_se/chapters