Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON MAN'S LIFE, by SIMONIDES OF CEOS



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON MAN'S LIFE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: No human thing in constancy will stay
Last Line: This though's of worth, record it in thy heart.
Alternate Author Name(s): Simonides Of Keos
Subject(s): Life


No human thing in constancy will stay;
The learned Chian us'd of old to say,
Our life was frailer than the fading leaves;
Which Man forgets, and scarce its flight perceives:

He harbours idle fancies in his brain,
Many which he from childhood did retain:
And whilst his vigour lasts, he's still inclin'd
To fill with trifles his unsettled mind;

On Age or Death ne'er thinks, nor takes he care
Health to preserve, or active limbs to spare.
We to more serious things our minds should give;
Youth hastes, and we have little time to live.

To weigh this well, is a material part,
This though's of worth, record it in thy heart.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...



Home: PoetryExplorer.net