WOULD we but love what will not pass away! The sun that on each morning shines as clear As when it rose first on the world's first year; The fresh green leaves that rustle on the spray. The sun will shine, the leaves will be as gay When graves are full of all our hearts held dear, When not a soul of those who loved us here, Not one, is left us -- creatures of decay. Yea, love the Abiding in the Universe Which was before, and will be after us. Nor yet for ever hanker and vainly cry For human love -- the beings that change or die; Die -- change -- forget: to care so is a curse, Yet cursed we'll be rather than not care thus. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN EPITAPH by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE PHILOMELA: PHILOMELA'S ODE [THAT SHE SANG IN HER ARBOR] by ROBERT GREENE MOTHER TO SON by JAMES LANGSTON HUGHES CORTEGE FOR ROSENBLOOM by WALLACE STEVENS DOWN BY THE SALLEY GARDENS by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE BOY AND THE BROOK by LEO ALISHAN |