"My days are in the yellow leaf;
The flower and fruits of Love are gone."
In this poem, the speaker laments his age and the fact that he is beyond the "prime" of his life. He uses nature imagery to describe how his life is in "yellow leaf," suggesting that he is approaching the end of his life. To modern readers, this is surprising, as the poet was only thirty-six when he wrote this poem.
"The land of honorable Death
Is here."
In this poem, the speaker considers himself to be at the end of his life. The only purpose in his life is the possibility of having an honorable death, which he references here. In this way, the speaker argues that an honorable death can make up for any transgressions made in a person's youth,
"Seek out—less often sought than found—
A Soldier's Grave, for thee the best"
Of all the deaths a person could have, a soldier's death is the most honorable, according to the speaker. Specifically, the speaker is fighting in Greece and believes that he will die in glory on the battlefield. This kind of self-sacrifice is something the speaker believes is respectful and purposeful.
