Poor restless mortal, creature of a day! Why dost thou mourn? who wakes thy plaintive sigh? What though thy soul be sorrow's tearful prey, That soul is deathless, and thy tears will dry. Thou art the victim of some woman's whim, Thy heart is crushed by one who cannot feel: Thou seekest God, imploring aid from Him— Thy soul is deathless, and thy heart will heal. Thou say'st, unmann'd by transitory sorrow, The Past conceals the Future from thy sight: Weep not for yesterday, await to-morrow— Thy soul is deathless—Time pursues his flight. Thy body faints beneath thy spirit's woe— Thy limbs are feeble, and thy brow doth bend— Go, kneel in prayer, insensate creature! go— Thy soul is deathless: life will quickly end. Thy bones to dust shall crumble in the bier— Thy memory, name and glory, all must die— But not thy love: if love to thee be dear, 'Twill live forever with thy soul on high! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NUPTIAL SLEEP by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI AMONG THE LAKES by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB THE SHEPHERD'S PIPE: SECOND ECLOGUE by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) ASOLANDO: REVERIE by ROBERT BROWNING OLNEY HYMNS: 66. GRACE AND PROVIDENCE by WILLIAM COWPER TO A PORTRAIT OF WHISTLER IN THE BROOKLYN ART MUSEUM by ELEANOR ROGERS COX |