Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE WHIM; SONG, by THOMAS FLATMAN Poet's Biography First Line: Why so serious, why so grave? Last Line: When the play's at an end, let the curtain fall down. Subject(s): Carpe Diem | ||||||||
I. WHY so serious, why so grave? Man of business, why so muddy? Thyself from Chance thou canst not save With all thy care and study. Look merrily then, and take thy repose; For 'tis to no purpose to look so forlorn, Since the World was as bad before thou wert born, And when it will mend who knows? And a thousand year hence 'tis all one, If thou lay'st on a dunghill, or sat'st on a throne. II. To be troubled, to be sad, Carking mortal, 'tis a folly, For a pound of Pleasure's not so bad As an ounce of Melancholy: Since all our lives long we travel towards Death, Let us rest us sometimes, and bait by the way, 'Tis but dying at last; in our race let us stay, And we shan't be so soon out of breath. Sit the comedy out, and that done, When the play's at an end, let the curtain fall down. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AMOUR by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON BUT NOW by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON GLAMOUR by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON I WANT TO LIVE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON UNDER A PATCHED SAIL by MARIANNE MOORE HORACE TO LEUCONOE by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON EPITAPH: FOR ONE WHO GAILY SOWED HIS OATS by COUNTEE CULLEN AN APPEAL TO CATS IN THE BUSINESS OF LOVE; SONG by THOMAS FLATMAN |
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