THE WORLDLY HOPE MEN SET THIER HEARTS UPON
TURNS ASHES-OR IT PROSPERS;AND ANON,
LIKE SNOW UPON THE DESERT'S DUSTY FACE
LIGHTING A LITTLE HOUR OR TWO IS GONE.
ALIKE FOR THOSE WHO FOR TODAY PREPARE,
AND THOSE AND THOSE THAT AFTER TOMORROW STARE,
A CRYER FROM THE TOWER OF DARKNESS CRIES
"FOOLS!YOUR REWARD IS NEITHER HERE NOR THERE!"
THEN TO THIS EARTHEN BOWL DID I ADJOURN
MY LIP THE SECRET WELL OF LIFE TO LEARN:
AND LIP TO LIP IT MURMURED"WHILE YOU LIVE DRINK!- FOR ONCE DEAD YOU SHALL NEVER RETURN"
AH! FILL THE CUP:-WHAT BEGS IT TO REPEAT
HOW TIME IS SLIPPING BENEATH OUR FEET
UNBORN TOMMOROW,AND DEAD YESTERDAY
WHY FRET ABOUT THEM IF TODAY BE SWEET! FOR IN AND OUT, ABOUT,ABOUT,BELOW,
'TIS NOTHING BUT A MAGIC SHADOW-SHOW
PLAYED IN A BOX WHOSE CANDLE IS THE SUN,
ROUND WHICH WE PHANTOM FIGURES COME AND GO.
