Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SIC VITA, by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643)



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SIC VITA, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Like to a silkworm of one year
Last Line: And man as these as quickly gone.
Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, William Of Tavistock
Subject(s): Mankind; Human Race


LIKE to a silkworm of one year,
Or like a wronged lover's tear,
Or on the waves a rudder's dint,
Or like the sparkles of a flint,
Or like to little cakes perfum'd,
Or fireworks made to be consum'd;
Even such is man, and all that trust
In weak and animated dust.
The silkworm droops; the tear's soon shed;
The ship's way lost; the sparkle dead;
The cake is burnt; the firework done;
And man as these as quickly gone.





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