Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VI. Fancy. 1904. | | | | Poems of Sentiment: II. Life | | Life | | George Herbert (1593–1633) |
| | | I MADE a posie, while the day ran by: | |
| “Here will I smell my remnant out, and tie | |
| My life within this band.” | |
| But Time did beckon to the flowers, and they | |
| By noon most cunningly did steal away, | 5 |
| And withered in my hand. | |
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| My hand was next to them, and then my heart; | |
| I took, without more thinking, in good part | |
| Time’s gentle admonition; | |
| Who did so sweetly death’s sad taste convey, | 10 |
| Making my minde to smell my fatall day, | |
| Yet sug’ring the suspicion. | |
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| Farewell, dear flowers! sweetly your time ye spent; | |
| Fit, while ye lived, for smell or ornament, | |
| And after death for cures. | 15 |
| I follow straight without complaints or grief; | |
| Since, if my scent be good, I care not if | |
| It be as short as yours. | | | | |
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