Poems (Rossetti, 1901)/Days of Vanity
DAYS OF VANITY.
A DREAM that waketh, Bubble that breaketh, Song whose burden sigheth, A passing breath, Smoke that vanisheth,—Such is life that dieth.
A flower that fadeth, Fruit the tree sheddeth, Trackless bird that flieth, Summer time brief, Falling of the leaf,—Such is life that dieth.
A scent exhaling, Snow waters failing, Morning dew that drieth, A windy blast, Lengthening shadows cast,—Such is life that dieth.
A scanty measure, Rust-eaten treasure, Spending that nought buyeth, Moth on the wing, Toil unprofiting,—Such is life that dieth.
Morrow by morrow Sorrow breeds sorrow, For this my song sigheth; From day to night We lapse out of sight.—Such is life that dieth.