163 
Ah! he should know, for all things teach 
The mournful, moral, startling truth; 
The ruined pile — pale floweret — each 
Alike proclaims departed youth! 
And man should learn from their decay 
How his own life-sands drop away! 
Yes! he should take the lesson home, 
Throughout creation sternly taught, 
Nor let the daily warning come 
Unhallowed still by act and thought. 
A little while, — how long, alas ! 
He knows not, — and his time will pass. 
