DAYS OF VANITY.

By Christina Georgina Rossetti

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.