Dying With Dignity Death be not proud, though some have called thee / Mighty and dreadful, for, thou art not so,” wrote John Donne. The great poet drew strength and solace from his belief in heavenly salvation. Weeks before he died, in 1631, he delivered his own funeral oration, a sermon entitled “Death’s Duel,” in which he described life as a never-ending but ultimately hopeful struggle against suffering and death. So here’s this month’s question: 378 years later, why aren’t we dying any better?