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Poem
November 22, 1827
The Litchfield County Post
Litchfield, Litchfield County, Connecticut
What is this article about?
A poem in seventeenth-century style using metaphors of shooting stars, roses, dew-drops, stones, bubbles, shadows, cannon sounds, and swallows to depict the transience of human life, concluding that death ends all while one reflects.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
LIFE'S LIKENESS.
Written in imitation of the Poetry of the seventeenth century.
Life is-what?
It is the shooting of a star.
That gleams along the trackless air,
And vanishes almost ere seen, to nought,
And such is man--
He shines and flutters for a span,
And is forgot
Life is--what?
It is the vermeil of the rose,
That blooms but till the bleak wind blows.
When all entomb'd in sweets, doth fade and rot
And such is man-
He struts in bravery for a span,
And is forgot.
Life is-what?
It is the dew-drop of the morn,
That quiv'ring, hangs upon the thorn,
Till, quaff'd by sun beams, 'tis no longer aught,
And such is man—
He's steep'd in sorrow for a span,
And melts, forgot.
Life is-what?
A stone, whose fall doth circles make.
On the smooth water of the lake,
Which spread till one and all forsake the spot,
And such is man-
Midst friends he revels for a span,
And sinks forgot.
Life is-what?
It is a bubble on the morn,
Rais'd by a LITTLE GLOBE of rain,
Whose air destroys the fabric it hath wrought.
And such is man-
Swell'd into being for a span,
And broke, forgot.
Life is--what ?
A shadow on the mountain's side
Of rock that doth on ether ride,
Driven by the northern gale, with tempest fraught,
And such is man-
He hangs on greatness for a span,
And is forgot.
Life is-what?
It is the sound of cannon near.
Which strikes upon the startled ear.
And ceases ere we can distinguish aught
And such is man-
He frets and blusters for a span,
And is forgot.
Life is-what?
It is the swallow's sojournment,
Who, ere the summer's robe is rent,
Flies to some distant bourne, by instinct taught.
And such is man-
He rents his dwelling for a span
And flits, forgot.
And is this-Life ?
Oh yes! and, had I time, I'd tell
An hundred shapes more transient still.
But while I speak, Fate whets his slaughterous knife,
And such is man-
While reck'ning o'er life's little span,
Death ends the strife.
Written in imitation of the Poetry of the seventeenth century.
Life is-what?
It is the shooting of a star.
That gleams along the trackless air,
And vanishes almost ere seen, to nought,
And such is man--
He shines and flutters for a span,
And is forgot
Life is--what?
It is the vermeil of the rose,
That blooms but till the bleak wind blows.
When all entomb'd in sweets, doth fade and rot
And such is man-
He struts in bravery for a span,
And is forgot.
Life is-what?
It is the dew-drop of the morn,
That quiv'ring, hangs upon the thorn,
Till, quaff'd by sun beams, 'tis no longer aught,
And such is man—
He's steep'd in sorrow for a span,
And melts, forgot.
Life is-what?
A stone, whose fall doth circles make.
On the smooth water of the lake,
Which spread till one and all forsake the spot,
And such is man-
Midst friends he revels for a span,
And sinks forgot.
Life is-what?
It is a bubble on the morn,
Rais'd by a LITTLE GLOBE of rain,
Whose air destroys the fabric it hath wrought.
And such is man-
Swell'd into being for a span,
And broke, forgot.
Life is--what ?
A shadow on the mountain's side
Of rock that doth on ether ride,
Driven by the northern gale, with tempest fraught,
And such is man-
He hangs on greatness for a span,
And is forgot.
Life is-what?
It is the sound of cannon near.
Which strikes upon the startled ear.
And ceases ere we can distinguish aught
And such is man-
He frets and blusters for a span,
And is forgot.
Life is-what?
It is the swallow's sojournment,
Who, ere the summer's robe is rent,
Flies to some distant bourne, by instinct taught.
And such is man-
He rents his dwelling for a span
And flits, forgot.
And is this-Life ?
Oh yes! and, had I time, I'd tell
An hundred shapes more transient still.
But while I speak, Fate whets his slaughterous knife,
And such is man-
While reck'ning o'er life's little span,
Death ends the strife.
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Life Transience
Mortality Metaphors
Seventeenth Century Imitation
Brevity Of Man
Fading Existence
Poem Details
Title
Life's Likeness.
Subject
Imitation Of Seventeenth Century Poetry On Life's Transience
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas With Repetitive Structure
Key Lines
Life Is What?
It Is The Shooting Of A Star.
That Gleams Along The Trackless Air,
And Vanishes Almost Ere Seen, To Nought,
And Such Is Man
He Shines And Flutters For A Span,
And Is Forgot
And Is This Life ?
Oh Yes! And, Had I Time, I'd Tell
An Hundred Shapes More Transient Still.
But While I Speak, Fate Whets His Slaughterous Knife,
And Such Is Man
While Reck'ning O'er Life's Little Span,
Death Ends The Strife.