Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TIME'S CHANGES, FR. THE ART OF POLITICS, by JAMES BRAMSTON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TIME'S CHANGES, FR. THE ART OF POLITICS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Like south-sea stock, expressions rise and fall
Last Line: Can there be any trusting to our words?
Subject(s): Comedy; Courts & Courtiers; London; Politics & Government; Towns; Royal Court Life; Royalty; Kings; Queens


LIKE South Sea stock, expressions rise and fall:
King Edward's words are now no words at all.
Did aught your predecessors' genius cramp?
Sure ev'ry reign may have its proper stamp.
All sublunary things of death partake;
What alteration does a cent'ry make?
Kings and comedians all are mortal found,
Caesar and Pinkethman are under ground.
What's not destroyed by time's devouring hand?
Where's Troy, and where's the maypole in the Strand?
Pease, cabbages and turnips once grew where
Now stands New Bond Street and a newer square;
Such piles of buildings now rise up and down,
London itself seems going out of town.
Our fathers crossed from Fulham in a wherry;
Their sons enjoy a bridge at Putney-ferry.
Think we that modern words eternal are?
Toupet and Tompion, Cosins and Colmar,
Hereafter will be called by some plain man
A wig, a watch, a pair of stays, a fan.
To things themselves if time such change affords,
Can there be any trusting to our words?





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