When I'M Killed by Robert Graves
The poem explores themes of death, memory, and the enduring nature of art. The speaker addresses those left behind, urging them not to mourn or dwell on their physical absence after death. Instead, they emphasize the importance of remembering them through their words and poetry. The speaker rejects traditional notions of an afterlife, asserting that they will not be found in Heaven or Hell but will live on in the verses they have created. The tone is defiant and assertive, reflecting a desire for a legacy that transcends mortality. The speaker's insistence on being remembered through their work highlights the power of literature as a means of immortality, suggesting that true existence lies in the impact one has on others rather than in physical presence. The poem ultimately serves as a meditation on the relationship between life, death, and the art that captures human experience.
By Robert Graves · First published 1936 · Genre: Poetry, War Literature, Existentialism · 198 words
First lines
When I'm killed, don't think of me Buried there in Cambrin Wood, Nor as in Zion think of me With the Intolerable Good. And there's one thing that I know well, I'm damned if I'll be damned to Hell!
So when I'm killed, don't wait for me, Walking the dim corridor; In Heaven or Hell, don't wait for me, Or you must wait for evermore. You'll find me buried, living-dead In these verses that you've read.
So when I'm killed, don't mourn for me, Shot, poor lad, so bold and young, Killed and gone -- don't mourn for me. On your lips my life is hung: O friends and lovers, you can save Your playfellow from the grave.
What this Textopian page supports
When I'M Killed is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Graves, dated 1936 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Graves
- Date: 1936 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, War Literature, Existentialism, Lyric, Philosophical
- Length: 198 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for When I'M Killed by Robert Graves
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering When I'M Killed?
- How does this poem by Robert Graves fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Euthanasia by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- Youth And Age by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- Wilful Missing by Rudyard Kipling
- Epitaphs by Rudyard Kipling
- Ode On Intimations Of Immortality From by Alice Meynell
- Testament by Sara Teasdale
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse and employs poetic devices, focusing on themes of death and remembrance.
- War Literature — The poem reflects on the experiences and consequences of war, particularly the loss of life and the emotional impact on survivors.
- Existentialism — The themes explore the nature of existence, death, and the idea of being remembered, questioning the meaning of life and afterlife.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal feelings and emotions, characteristic of lyric poetry, focusing on the speaker's perspective on death.
Tags
death · mortality · grief · war · poetry · existentialism · afterlife · memory · loss · identity · rebellion · hope