Josephine Jacobsen

This poem, written by Josephine Jacobsen who died at age 94 Wednesday, first appeared in The New Yorker Sept. 30, 1998. It is reprinted with permission.

The Companions

Living close to death

is not just a case of breath after breath.

It is to realize that to fraternize

with the dark prince is possible and wise,

so that in the final weather

when together you quit the room

though tentative and weary

you will have the enormous answer

to the enormous query.