THE glory of Life is fleeting; Its splendour passeth away, As the tints and odours meeting In the flowers we twined to-day. How brightly, in varied light, They reflected the morning sun; But the chilling dews of the night Withered them one by one. So the stream of Existence floweth O'er the golden sands of youth, In the light of a joy that gloweth From the depths of its love and truth. But heavy, and cold, and fast, The gathering clouds uprise, Eclipsing the light, which cast On the waters a thousand dyes. And onward, in sullen endeavour, Like a stream in a sunless cave, It floweth in darkness ever: Yet -- could we thus reach the grave! But we wake to a sorrow deeper -- The knowledge of all we have lost; And the light grows fainter and weaker As we're borne from youth's sunny coast. Yet onward with drifting motion, Still farther from life and light; Around us a desert Ocean -- Above us eternal Night. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONGS FOR TWO SEASONS: 1. AFTER GRAVE ILLNESS by CAROL FROST CLASS SONG (WHICH WILL BE SUNG ON THE 22ND OF FEBRUARY) by GEORGE SANTAYANA CASABIANCA by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS THE LARK ASCENDING by GEORGE MEREDITH THE FLOWERS OF THE FOREST by ALISON RUTHERFORD AT LAST by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER |