University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
  

collapse section 
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
  
 III. 
 IV. 
  
  
  
  
 V. 
 VI. 
 VII. 
 VIII. 
  
 IX. 
  
  
  
 X. 
  
 XI. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 XII. 
 XIII. 
  
  
 XIV. 
  
  
  
  
 XV. 
  
 XVI. 
 XVII. 
 XVIII. 
 XIX. 
 XX. 
 XXI. 
 XXII. 
 XXIII. 
 XXIV. 
 XXV. 
 XXVI. 
 XXVII. 
SONNET XXVII. HUMAN LIFE.
 XXVIII. 
 XXIX. 
  
  
 XXX. 
  
 XXXI. 
  
  


120

SONNET XXVII. HUMAN LIFE.

Through waving boughs the wand'ring zephyrs sigh,
And, rolling onward, pass unseen away;
The sparkling stream is ever gliding by
To meet the ocean in some distant bay;
Aloft in air the clouds of summer stray
With silent motion down the azure sky;
The sun in golden glory climbs on high,
To end on western hills the waning day.
The air, the flying cloud, the rolling stream,
The sun that rises but to set again,
Are emblems of our life, a fleeting dream
That, in the silent nightwatch, cheats the brain.
O idle world! Why should I care for thee,
Thus passing through thee to eternity!