How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #4
The lips of time leech to the fountain head; (16)
Remember earlier in the section when we were talking about water representing life? Well, Thomas is using that association again. This time we have a fountain, presumably with flowing water, that is being drained by none other than time—who is apparently super-thirsty. With the "lips of time leech[ed] to the fountain head," we have time draining away the water leaving the fountain dry. Death image? We'd say so.
Quote #5
And I am dumb to tell the lover's tomb
How at my sheet goes the same crooked worm. (21-22)
Well, it's fitting that this poem should end with death imagery. For a second it seems like things are looking up. When we glance at the poem's last two lines we see the word "lover." What could be more life affirming than love? But never fear, Thomas isn't getting all warm and fuzzy. Nope—this is a "lover's tomb." Tombs are right up there with hangmen when it comes to direct death imagery.
To top it all off, the poem's last line revisits the image of that death shroud from line 13. It's that "sheet" the worm is after. Worms live underground, and people are buried underground.
You get the picture.