| |
| GHASTLY, ghoulish, grinning skull, | |
| Toothless, eyeless, hollow, dull, | |
| Why your smirk and empty smile | |
| As the hours away you wile? | |
| Has the earth become such bore | 5 |
| That it pleases nevermore? | |
| Whence your joy through sun and rain? | |
| Is ’t because of loss of pain? | |
| Have you learned what men learn not | |
| That earth’s substance turns to rot? | 10 |
| After learning now you scan | |
| Vain endeavors man by man? | |
| Do you mind that you as they | |
| Once was held by mystic sway; | |
| Dreamed and struggled, hoped and prayed, | 15 |
| Lolled and with the minutes played? | |
| Sighed for honors; battles planned; | |
| Sipped of cups that wisdom banned | |
| But would please the weak frail flesh; | |
| Suffered, fell, ’rose, struggled fresh? | 20 |
| Now that you are but a skull | |
| Glimpse you life as life is, full | |
| Of beauties that we miss | |
| Till time withers with his kiss? | |
| Do you laugh in cynic vein | 25 |
| Since you cannot try again? | |
| And you know that we, like you, | |
| Will too late our failings rue? | |
| Tell me, ghoulish, grinning skull | |
| What deep broodings, o’er you mull? | 30 |
| Tell me why you smirk and smile | |
| Ere I pass life’s sunset stile. | |
| |
