Lines 1-4

The first section of "Ways to Live" is subtitled "India." The most common religion in India, Hinduism, holds firm to the belief that all souls are returned to Earth in new bodies after their deaths— the doctrine of "transmigration" or "reincarnation." The first line of this poem mirrors the circular motion of reincarnation with repetition, using "in" twice (actually, three times, since the sound is part of "India") and putting "they" and "their" close together. This same effect occurs in the second line with "again and again." This stanza ends with an optimistic note, of life going from "well" to "better," with no mention at all of a poorly lived life. This optimism is offered to the reader, since the poem uses the words "you" and "your" to describe this better life.

Lines 5-8

In the second stanza, the distinction between those who believe in reincarnation...