Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LIFE'S PROGRESS, by ANNE FINCH


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LIFE'S PROGRESS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: How gaily is at first begun
Last Line: Leave following crowds behind.
Alternate Author Name(s): Kingsmill, Anne; Winchilsea, Countess Of
Subject(s): Life


How gaily is at first begun
Our life's uncertain race!
Whilst yet that sprightly morning sun,
With which we just set out to run,
Enlightens all the place.

How smiling the world's prospect lies,
How tempting to go through!
Not Canaan to the prophet's eyes,
From Pisgah, with a sweet surprise,
Did more inviting shew.

How promising's the book of fate,
Till throughly understood!
Whilst partial hopes such lots create
As may the youthful fancy treat
With all that's great and good.

How soft the first ideas prove,
Which wander through our minds!
How full the joys, how free the love,
Which does that early season move,
As flow'rs the western winds!

Our sighs are then but vernal air,
But April drops our tears,
Which swiftly passing, all grows fair,
Whilst beauty compensates our care,
And youth each vapour clears.

But oh! too soon, alas! we climb,
Scarce feeling, we ascend
The gently rising hill of Time,
From whence with grief we see that prime.
And all its sweetness end.

The die now cast, our station known,
Fond expectation past;
The thorns which former days had sown
To crops of late repentance grown,
Through which we toil at last.

Whilst every care's a driving harm,
That helps to bear us down;
Which faded smiles no more can charm
But every tear's a winter-storm,
And every look 's a frown.

Till with succeeding ills oppressed,
For joys we hoped to find;
By age too unrumbled and undressed,
We, gladly sinking down to rest,
Leave following crowds behind.





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