Original artwork, not a still
Unknown (commonly attrib. Anonymous)
Unknown
It is a fearful thing to love what death can touch.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Loving something mortal brings fear because anything cherished can be lost. The couplet accepts that affection and vulnerability come together: the more one values a living person or creature, the more one has to dread. The word 'fearful' suggests awe as well as anxiety.
Context reviewed
