O life, o mysterious life, Tell me: What have you to give? Disappointment and endless strife. Yes, such is the life we live! O youth, o most beautiful youth, Tell me: How long do you last? Your face will soon fade and tell you the truth, That your charm is a thing of the past. O love, o wonderful love, Tell me: Do you many hearts break? You have the eyes, the eyes of a dove, But your acts are the acts of a snake. O hell, o infernal hell, Can you tell me the depths of your pit? Where only the devil and misery dwell. The wicked will soon have their fit. So watch your step. It's time to begin; For the pitfalls are laid in your way. They are watching and waiting to see you fall in: So before, "Oh, beware," I say. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LAST JUDGMENT by JOHN CROWE RANSOM THE MOTHER WATCH by EDGAR ALBERT GUEST THE FRAILTY AND HURTFULNESS OF BEAUTY by HENRY HOWARD THE GROVES OF BLARNEY by RICHARD ALFRED MILLIKIN FAUSTINE by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE |