Death cannot gather up our souls unless you allow him to. Donne depicts Death as a scavenger who "dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell," (10) because Death must wait for these things to do something before he can do his job. He then criticizes Death by saying, "and poppy or charms can make us sleep as well, / And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou now?" (11-12). This further explains the comparing between Death and sleep stating that there are other ways to sleep besides dying. He better explains himself stating that Death is "One short sleep past, we wake eternally," (13) which expresses that the sleep of Death is short lived compared to eternal life. Finally, Donne explains what becomes of Death once it has taken our life. He says, "And Death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die." (14) which explains the fact that once Death carries us to eternal sleep, it is made useless and will die. Donne has rebuked Death's pride and has reduced Death to a short nap before eternity. He also does not welcome Death, but in "Time" by George Herbert, he, does. .
George Herbert's poem "Time" has a smoother tone in dealing with the symbols of death and time. Herbert speaks about a meeting with Time, which gives a more gentle relationship between the poet and its subject. In his first encounter with "Time", Herbert states, "Slack thing thy scythe is dull; whet it for shame" (1-2). This explains his disappointment with the dull scythe. Time desires this when Herbert continues to explain "No marvel, sir, he did reply, / If it at length deserve some blame;/ But where one man would have me grind it, / Twenty for one too sharp do find it," (3-6). This basically expresses that most people don't want Time's reaping scythe to be sharp. Herbert further expresses himself saying, "Perhaps some of old did pass, / Who above all things loved this life;/ To whom the scythe a hatchet was, / Which now is but a pruning knife" (7-10).