No human thing in constancy will stay; The learned Chian us'd of old to say, Our life was frailer than the fading leaves; Which Man forgets, and scarce its flight perceives: He harbours idle fancies in his brain, Many which he from childhood did retain: And whilst his vigour lasts, he's still inclin'd To fill with trifles his unsettled mind; On Age or Death ne'er thinks, nor takes he care Health to preserve, or active limbs to spare. We to more serious things our minds should give; Youth hastes, and we have little time to live. To weigh this well, is a material part, This though's of worth, record it in thy heart. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON THE DEATH OF JOSEPH RODMAN DRAKE by FITZ-GREENE HALLECK 23RD STREET RUNS INTO HEAVEN by KENNETH PATCHEN A SONNET. ON THE DEATH OF SYLVIA by PHILIP AYRES UNCROWNED by ALFRED GOLDSWORTHY BAILEY THE HERITAGE FOREGONE by WILLIAM ROSE BENET A SUMMER NIGHT'S ENCHANTMENT by WILLIAM STANLEY BRAITHWAITE THE BLAZED TRAIL by ABBIE FARWELL BROWN SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 17 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING |