From world to world, unknown we speed, And leave the globe where first we try; While others to our place succeed, And in a moment die. Alas, we know not whence we came, To tarry but a transient day; Break into time to gather fame, And pass at once away. At once we rise and fix our snares, To catch the flitting birds of gain; 'Till burdened with a thousand cares, And life turns into pain. Vain bird, a while think what am I, Here entering 'mid a hawk-like throng; Quickly hatched out, as quick to fly, And dare not tarry long. Where is the mighty and the stout, Who lived this fading world to crave? Left and forever gone without A stone to show their grave. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE GREAT LOVER by RUPERT BROOKE CUMNOR HALL by WILLIAM JULIUS MICKLE YOU LINGERING SPARSE LEAVES OF ME by WALT WHITMAN IN VINCULIS; SONNETS WRITTEN IN AN IRISH PRISON: THE COURT OF PENANCE by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT LOUISA; A TALE by JANE BOWDLER OCTOBER by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THE MAGIC WAND by ADA CAMBRIDGE WE'RE HOMEWARD BOUND by MARY INGERSOLL CHAMBERLAIN SEVEN SONNETS ON THE THOUGHT OF DEATH: 1 by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH |