Classic and Contemporary Poetry
LIFE'S PROGRESS, by ANNE FINCH Poet's Biography First Line: How gaily is at first begun Last Line: Leave following crowds behind. Alternate Author Name(s): Kingsmill, Anne; Winchilsea, Countess Of Subject(s): Life | ||||||||
How gaily is at first begun Our life's uncertain race! Whilst yet that sprightly morning sun, With which we just set out to run, Enlightens all the place. How smiling the world's prospect lies, How tempting to go through! Not Canaan to the prophet's eyes, From Pisgah, with a sweet surprise, Did more inviting shew. How promising's the book of fate, Till throughly understood! Whilst partial hopes such lots create As may the youthful fancy treat With all that's great and good. How soft the first ideas prove, Which wander through our minds! How full the joys, how free the love, Which does that early season move, As flow'rs the western winds! Our sighs are then but vernal air, But April drops our tears, Which swiftly passing, all grows fair, Whilst beauty compensates our care, And youth each vapour clears. But oh! too soon, alas! we climb, Scarce feeling, we ascend The gently rising hill of Time, From whence with grief we see that prime. And all its sweetness end. The die now cast, our station known, Fond expectation past; The thorns which former days had sown To crops of late repentance grown, Through which we toil at last. Whilst every care's a driving harm, That helps to bear us down; Which faded smiles no more can charm But every tear's a winter-storm, And every look 's a frown. Till with succeeding ills oppressed, For joys we hoped to find; By age too unrumbled and undressed, We, gladly sinking down to rest, Leave following crowds behind. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PRIVILEGE OF BEING by ROBERT HASS SEAWATER STIFFENS CLOTH by JANE HIRSHFIELD SAYING YES TO LIVING by DAVID IGNATOW THE WORLD IS SO DIFFICULT TO GIVE UP by DAVID IGNATOW |
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