COUNTESS, I see the flying year, And feel how Time is wasting here: Ay, more, he soon his worst will do, And garner all your roses too. It pleases Time to fold his wings Around our best and fairest things; He'll mar your blooming cheek, as now He stamps his mark upon my brow. The same mute planets rise and shine To rule your days and nights as mine: Once I was young and gay, and, see... What I am now you soon will be. And yet I boast a certain charm That shields me from your worst alarm; And bids me gaze, with front sublime, On all these ravages of Time. You boast a gift to charm the eyes, I boast a gift that Time defies: For mine will still be mine, and last When all your pride of beauty's past. My gift may long embalm the lures Of eyes -- ah, sweet to me as yours! For ages hence the great and good Will judge you as I choose they should. In days to come, the peer or clown, With whom I still shall win renown, Will only know that you were fair Because I chanced to say you were. Proud Lady! Scornful beauty mocks At aged heads and silver locks; But think awhile before you fly, Or spurn a poet such as I. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LIVING TEMPLE by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES THE SHEPHEARDES CALENDER: AUGUST by EDMUND SPENSER CAMPS OF GREEN by WALT WHITMAN THE GRAVE OF HOMER by ALCAEUS OF MESSENE THE FUGITIVE by LAWRENCE ALMA-TADEMA POEM FOR PICTURE: TO A DRAWING OF A HORSE BY GEORGIO DI CHIRICO by FRANK ANKENBRAND JR. |