When as Mans life, the light of humane lust, In socket of his earthly lanthorne burnes, That all this glory unto ashes must, And generation to corruptiion turnes; Then fond desires that onely feare their end, Doe vainely wish for life, but to amend. But when this life is from the body fled, To see it selfe in that eternall Glasse, Where time doth end, and thoughts accuse the dead, Where all to come, is one with all that was; Then living men aske how he left his breath, That while he lived never thought of death. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CRYSTAL GAZER by SARA TEASDALE THE VOICE OF THE ANCIENT BARD, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE TO MRS. THRALE [ON HER COMPLETING HER THIRTY-FIFTH YEAR] by SAMUEL JOHNSON (1709-1784) THE STENOGRAPHERS by PATRICIA KATHLEEN PAGE A LITTLE SONG OF LIFE by LIZETTE WOODWORTH REESE ON PASSING THE NEW MENIN GATE by SIEGFRIED SASSOON |