Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume III. Sorrow and Consolation. 1904. | | | | V. Death and Bereavement | | Man’s Mortality | | Simon Wastell (c. 1566–1632) |
| | | LIKE as the damask rose you see, | |
| Or like the blossom on the tree, | |
| Or like the dainty flower in May, | |
| Or like the morning of the day, | |
| Or like the sun, or like the shade, | 5 |
| Or like the gourd which Jonas had,— | |
| E’en such is man; whose thread is spun, | |
| Drawn out, and cut, and so is done.— | |
| The rose withers, the blossom blasteth, | |
| The flower fades, the morning hasteth, | 10 |
| The sun sets, the shadow flies, | |
| The gourd consumes,—and man he dies! | |
| |
| Like to the grass that ’s newly sprung, | |
| Or like a tale that ’s new begun, | |
| Or like the bird that ’s here to-day, | 15 |
| Or like the pearlèd dew of May, | |
| Or like an hour, or like a span, | |
| Or like the singing of a swan,— | |
| E’en such is man; who lives by breath, | |
| Is here, now there, in life and death.— | 20 |
| The grass withers, the tale is ended, | |
| The bird is flown, the dew ’s ascended. | |
| The hour is short, the span is long, | |
| The swan ’s near death,—man’s life is done! | | | | |
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