The Life That I Have

The life that I have is all that I have
And the life that I have is yours.
The love that I have of the life that I have
Is yours and yours and yours.

A sleep I shall have
A rest I shall have,
Yet death will be but a pause,
For the peace of my years in the long green grass
Will be yours and yours and yours

— By Leo Marks

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Meaning
This poem is about love, loss, and the deep connection between two people. The speaker says their life belongs to someone else—not just the living part, but even what comes after. They know death will come, but they don’t see it as an end. Instead, it’s just a pause. Even after they’re gone, their love stays. Their peace, their memory, and their heart still belong to the one they love.

Literary Interpretation
Leo Marks uses simple and repeated words to make the poem feel personal and strong. The line “yours and yours and yours” shows how completely the speaker gives themselves. The rhythm feels soft, like a lullaby, which matches the calm tone about death and love. Death isn’t shown as scary. Instead, it’s peaceful—just “a pause.” The image of “long green grass” at the end adds to this calm feeling. It suggests nature, quiet, and rest. The whole poem is about giving, remembering, and holding on, even after death.