O Life! -- what a dream,
What a tale that is told!
How strangely I seem
On a sudden grown old;
With records behind me
Of years by the score,
And all to remind me
That they are no more!

The friends of my prime
Are dead, or grown grey,
Or distanced by time,
Or stolen away;
And as my thought ranges
O'er people and things,
Perpetual changes
My memory rings!

Ah! days that are past,--
How vague to mine eyes
As perishing fast
Recollections arise!
O pity and sorrow
That feelings decay,
And ev'ry To-morrow
Out-clamours To-day!

But solemn in sooth
Is Yesterday's page,--
Alas! for my youth,
Alas! for mine age,
Alas! is the sighing
From heart and from head,
For pleasures so flying
And pleasures so fled!