Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea, But sad mortality o'er-sways their power, How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea, Whose action is no stronger than a flower? O, how shall summer's honey breath hold out Against the wreckful siege of battering days, When rocks impregnable are not so stout, Nor gates of steel so strong, but Time decays? O fearful meditation! where, alack, Shall Time's best jewel from Time's chest lie hid? Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back? Or who his spoil of beauty can forbid? O, none, unless this miracle have might, That in black ink my love may still shine bright. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A GARDEN SONG by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON ON MY FIRST DAUGHTER by BEN JONSON TO LUCASTA, [ON] GOING BEYOND THE SEAS by RICHARD LOVELACE VIGNETTES OVERSEAS: 5. NIGHT SONG AT AMALFI by SARA TEASDALE ELEGIAC STANZAS by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH THE FEILIRE OF ADAMNAN by ADAMNAN CRADLE SONG by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH |