 | Jones Very : The Complete Poems |  |
The Day Lily
Learn O man! the worth of time,
By the lily's humble flowers;
Not alone the stars sublime
Mark for thee the rolling hours.
By the lily's humble flowers;
Not alone the stars sublime
Mark for thee the rolling hours.
See below thee, at thy feet,
Where it lifts its purple bell;
Hear it hour by hour repeat,
‘Day is passing, use it well.’
Where it lifts its purple bell;
Hear it hour by hour repeat,
‘Day is passing, use it well.’
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Flower by flower blooms forth to die,
With the course of every sun;
On the rod they drooping lie,
Telling each of duty done.
With the course of every sun;
On the rod they drooping lie,
Telling each of duty done.
Waste not then a single day,
That both heaven and earth record;
But, in cheerful haste, obey
Their harmonious-spoken word.
That both heaven and earth record;
But, in cheerful haste, obey
Their harmonious-spoken word.
Rouse thee, ere thy life has flown,
Speak thy word, and do thy deed;
In the field of Time is sown,
Precious, and immortal seed.
Speak thy word, and do thy deed;
In the field of Time is sown,
Precious, and immortal seed.
Every seed thou sowest now
Shall a future harvest bear;
In the furrows of thy plough
Wave the wheat, or useless tare!
Shall a future harvest bear;
In the furrows of thy plough
Wave the wheat, or useless tare!
Poem No. 315; July 1852
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