ONCE as I in my Study sate & saw The faithfull Houreglasse wth what speed it ran, (Much faster then my dull Invention) Me thought I might from thence some Emblem draw. I and ye Sand neer kindred had, my Dust Will proove it so: & for ye tender glasse My brittle Constitution may passe. Time measureth my life, & run it must, But heer's ye difference: That its houre will run, Whilst my poor Life hath not one minute sure. The Glasse, if us'd with care, may long indure: My most uncertaine Life may break alone. When that is out strait turned up againe Its Life renewed is, & runs afresh: But when my Dust is out, this helplesse Flesh Must in its ruine to Times end remaine. Yet then at length my Fate shall happier be: My Dust once turned up from my long Grave, Runs not by sleight vain houres, but stout & brave Triumphs o'r Time by sure Eternitie. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BLACK RIDERS: 1 by STEPHEN CRANE ARABIA by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE ARABELLA STUART by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS IN THE VALLEY OF THE ELWY by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS SONNET TO A NEGRO IN HARLEM by HELENE JOHNSON LINES ON THE MERMAID TAVERN by JOHN KEATS THE CUMBERLAND [MARCH 8, 1862] by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW |