Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON THE LIFE OF MAN by WALTER RALEIGH

First Line: WHAT IS OUR LIFE? A PLAY OF PASSION
Last Line: ONLY WE DIE IN EARNEST, THAT'S NO JEST.
Subject(s): LIFE;
What is our life? a play of passion,
Our mirth the musicke of division,
Our mothers wombes the tyring houses be,
When we are drest for this short Comedy,
Heaven the Judicious sharpe spector is,
That sits and markes still who doth act amisse,
Our graves that hide us from the searching Sun,
Are like drawne curtaynes when the play is done,
Thus march we playing to our latest rest,
Onely we dye in earnest, that's no Jest.




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