Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONNET by WILLIAM DRUMMOND OF HAWTHORNDEN

Poet Analysis

First Line: A PASSING GLANCE, A LIGHTNING 'LONG THE SKIES
Last Line: IN WHOM, SAVE DEATH, NAUGHT MORTAL WAS AT ALL.
A passing glance, a lightning long the skies
That ush'ring thunder dies straight to our sight,
A spark, of contraries which doth arise,
Then drowns in the huge depths of day and night,
Is this small Small called life, held in such price
Of blinded wights who nothing judge aright:
Of Parthian shaft so swift is not the flight
As life, that wastes itself and living dies.
Oh, what is human greatness, valour, wit?
What fading beauty, riches, honour, praise?
To what doth serve in golden thrones to sit,
Thrall earth's vast round, triumphal arches raise?
All is a dream, learn in this prince's fall,
In whom, save death, naught mortal was at all.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net