ough the confinement of the human grave, which compares to the Barcan wilderness, and continues its existence elsewhere. These lines show Bryant's belief in an afterlife. After reflective meditation in the wilderness Bryant comes to terms with death. He knows death is a conclusion to the material world, but in this conclusion is a type of rebirth. Bryant believes death prepares the soul for its next journey. With this belief he is put at ease. I think the author's opinion of death is that it should be a happy and relaxing experience. He tries to show that when dying instead of feeling deep sorrow and pain you will become embraced by mother nature and her calmness and it will be a soothing experience rather than a painful and devastating experience. In addition, I realize death, along with being the end of life, is an end to all earthly traits. The afterlife begins following death, and cannot contain earthly characteristics. Therefore, it is not logical for me to attempt the understanding of an afterlife. Even if it exists it is still impossible for me, as a living person, to understand. After reading this poem and seeing such strong words I can understand how dying could be a pleasant experience, rather than going along with most of stereotypes of how death really is. "Earth that nourished thee, shall claim thy growth, to be resolved to earth again, and, lost each human trace, surrendering up thine individual being, shalt thou go to mix forever with the elements, to be a brother to the insensible rock and to the treads upon".In saying this, the author is trying to say that when one has fully embraced death, instead of staying in a small grave in the ground, the deceased will become one with the earth. Even in showing how death is wonderful he uses such powerful, descriptive words. Becoming a part of the earth and befriending all the elements sounds like a dream come true the way he puts it. It almost seems as if this is how Bryant perc...
