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This is a poem I ran into ages ago, and its always reminded me of BTVS, particularly characters like Drusilla, Angelus, and Spike. I love the imagery of it, particularly the line "And you must go on breathing." The diction is stellar, and the meter and rhyme flow smoothly off the tongue. It's vivid and dark and I love it.

-Dorothy Parker-

"Braggart"

The days will rally, wreathing
Their crazy tarantelle;
And you must go on breathing,
But I'll be safe in hell.

Like January weather,
The years will bite and smart,
And pull your bones together
To wrap your chattering heart.

The pretty stuff you're made of
Will crack and crease and dry.
The thing you are afraid of
Will look from every eye.

You will go faltering after
The bright, imperious line,
And split your throat on laughter,
And burn your eyes with brine.

You will be frail and musty
With peering, furtive head,
Whilst I am young and lusty
Among the roaring dead.