A skull was once placed in my hand and I placed a watch inside it. The thoughts that came to me then were afterward written out in a poem.
Why should I fear it? Once the pulse of life
Throbbed in these temples, pale and bloodless now.
Here reason sat enthroned, its empire held
O’er infant thougth and thought to action grown;
A flashing eye in varying glances told
The secret workings of immortal mind.
The vital spark hath fled, and hope, and love,
And hatred–all are buried in the dust,
Forgotten, like the cold and senseless clay
That lies before me: such is human life.
Mortals, behold and read your destiny!
Faithful Chronometer, which now I place
Within this cavity with faltering hand,
Tell me how swift the passing moment fly!
I hear thy voice and tremble as I hear.
For time and death are blended — awful thought.
Death claims its victim. Time, that once was his,
Bearing him onward with resistless power,
Must in the vast eternity be lost.
Eternity, duration infinite!
Ages on ages roll unnumbered there;
From start to star the soul enraptured flies,
Drinking new beauties, transports ever new,
Casting its crown of glory at hist feet,
Whose word from chaos to existence called
A universe; whose hand omnipotent
Controls the storms that wake the boundless deep,
“And guides the planet in its wild career.”
1848 – Fannie Crosby
One of my favorite poem, reminds me of what limited life I own…
Enjoy
