Poems of Passion/Time and Love

by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Time flies. The swift hours hurry by
        And speed us on to untried ways;
New seasons ripen, perish, die,
        And yet love stays.
The old, old love—like sweet, at first,
        At last like bitter wine—
I know not if it blest or curst
        Thy life and mine.

Time flies. In vain our prayers, our tears!
        We cannot tempt him to delays;
Down to the past he bears the years,
        And yet love stays.
Through changing task and varying dream
        We hear the same refrain,
As one can hear a plaintive theme
        Run through each strain.

Time flies. He steals our pulsing youth;
        He robs us of our care-free days;
He takes away our trust and truth:
        And yet love stays.
O Time! take love! When love is vain,
        When all its best joys die—
When only its regrets remain—
        Let love, too, fly.