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Poem
January 19, 1782
The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Exeter, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A meditative poem using metaphors like a hand's breadth, arrow, vapor, and bubble to illustrate time's swift transience, concluding with a moral exhortation for man to prepare for death.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
ON TIME.
Ay, is there aught that can convey
An image of its transient stay?
'Tis an hand's breadth; 'tis a tale;
'Tis a veil under sail:
'Tis a courtier's training steed;
'Tis a shuttle in its speed
'Tis an eagle in its way.
Darting down upon its prey;
'Tis an arrow in its flight,
Mocking the pursuing sight;
'Tis a vapour in the air;
'Tis a whirlwind rushing there;
'Tis a short-liv'd fading flow'r;
'Tis a rain bow on a show'r;
'Tis a momentary ray,
Smiling in a winter's day;
'Tis a torrent's rapid stream:
'Tis a shadow; 'tis a dream;
'Tis the closing watch of night,
Dying at the rising light;
'Tis a land scape vainly gay,
Painted upon crumbling clay;
'Tis a lamp that wastes its fires;
'Tis a smoke that quick expires;
'Tis a bubble; 'tis a sigh?
Be prepar'd O Man! to die.
Ay, is there aught that can convey
An image of its transient stay?
'Tis an hand's breadth; 'tis a tale;
'Tis a veil under sail:
'Tis a courtier's training steed;
'Tis a shuttle in its speed
'Tis an eagle in its way.
Darting down upon its prey;
'Tis an arrow in its flight,
Mocking the pursuing sight;
'Tis a vapour in the air;
'Tis a whirlwind rushing there;
'Tis a short-liv'd fading flow'r;
'Tis a rain bow on a show'r;
'Tis a momentary ray,
Smiling in a winter's day;
'Tis a torrent's rapid stream:
'Tis a shadow; 'tis a dream;
'Tis the closing watch of night,
Dying at the rising light;
'Tis a land scape vainly gay,
Painted upon crumbling clay;
'Tis a lamp that wastes its fires;
'Tis a smoke that quick expires;
'Tis a bubble; 'tis a sigh?
Be prepar'd O Man! to die.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Time Transience
Mortality Metaphors
Preparation Death
Fleeting Life
Poem Details
Title
On Time.
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
'Tis An Hand's Breadth; 'Tis A Tale;
'Tis An Arrow In Its Flight,
Mocking The Pursuing Sight;
'Tis A Bubble; 'Tis A Sigh?
Be Prepar'd O Man! To Die.