| Higginson and Bigelow, comps. American Sonnets. 1891. | | | | Memento Mori | | By George McKnight (1840–1897) |
| | | LOOK, soul, how swiftly all things onward tend! | |
| Such universal haste betokens need | |
| In Destiny’s design of pressing speed. | |
| Speed thou, stay not until thou reach the end! | |
| Upon the haste of Time there may depend | 5 |
| Some far-off good. Thou child of Time, give heed | |
| That with a willing heart and ready deed | |
| To Time’s great haste thy dole of speed thou lend! | |
| Though beauteous scenes thy onward steps would stay, | |
| Press forward toward the Goal that beckons thee— | 10 |
| The unimagined possibility | |
| Of all the mighty future to assay! | |
| And when thou drawest near thy hour to die, | |
| Rejoice that one accomplishment is nigh. | | | | |
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