John Masefield - By a Bier-Side

This is a sacred city built of marvellous earth.
Life was lived nobly here to give such beauty birth.

Beauty was in this brain and in this eager hand:
Death is so blind and dumb Death does not understand.
Death drifts the brain with dust and soils the young limbs' glory,
Death makes justice a dream, and strength a traveller's story.
Death drives the lovely soul to wander under the sky.
Death opens unknown doors. It is most grand to die.

John Masefield

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/by-a-bier-side/