This Too Will Pass

[Guest guest]

EVEN THIS SHALL PASS AWAY

One in Persia reigned a king

Who upon his signet ring

Graved a maxim true and wise,

Which if held before his eyes,

Gave him counsel at a glance.

Solemn words, and these are they;

"Even this shall pass away."

 

Trains of camels through the sand

Brought him gems from Samarcand;

Fleets of galleys through the seas

Brought him pearls to match with these.

But he counted not his gain

Treasures of mine or main;

"What is wealth?" the king would say

"Even this shall pass away."

 

In the revels of his court,

At the zenith of the sport,

When the palms of all his guests

Burned with clapping at his jests,

He, amid his figs and wine,

Cried, " Oh loving friends of mine!

Pleasures come but not to stay;

"Even this shall pass away."

 

Fighting on a furious field,

Once a javelin pierced his shield.

Soldiers with a loud lament.

Bore him bleeding to his tent

Groaning from his tortured side,

"Pain is hard to bear," he cried;

"But with patience, day by day,

"Even this shall pass away."

 

Towering in the public square,

Twenty cubits in the air,

Rose his statue carved in stone.

Then the king, disguised, unknown,

Stood before his sculptured name,

Musing meekly, "What is fame?

Fame is but slow decay-

`Even this shall pass away."

 

Struck with palsy, sere and old,

Waiting at the Gates of Gold.

Said he with his dying breath;

"Life is done but what is death?"

Then in answer to the king,

Fell a sunbeam on the ring,

Showing by a heavenly ray--

"Even this shall pass away."

 

Author unknown. Passed on by Barry

and Passed On By Valerie