The title of this poem, Aubade is interesting — the word aubade refers to (1.) a song at dawn (serenade …is at evening); or perhaps the meaning is (2.) a poem or song of or about lovers separating at dawn. Either way, it’s a compelling juxtaposition, given the title.
And spelling out an obvious raison d’être for religion.
“…
The sure extinction that we travel to
And shall be lost in always. Not to be here,
Not to be anywhere,
And soon; nothing more terrible, nothing more true.
This is a special way of being afraid
No trick dispels. Religion used to try,
That vast, moth-eaten musical brocade
Created to pretend we never die,
… ”
