Man's Mortality

Partly from the Scripture

Written in Sickness

Our years look behind us like tales that are told
Our days like to shadows keep passing us bye
That takes a short step to our pillow of mould
& rise on lifes stage like to vapours & dye

.
As frail as the grass of the meadow is man
His youth like the blossom of summer comes on
That smiles to the sunbeam till autumn turns wan
& the wind passes oer it & bids it be gone

.
Thus one generation keeps passing away
& new generations their places retain
& the friends of our bosom that leave us to day
Shall neer fill the circle of friendship again

.
They go & their lives as if never begun
In the sleep of the grave shall be heard of no more
In future transactions done under the sun
No portion is left them to act as before

.
Their exit they make to that awful unknown
& vain we conjecture were now they sojourn
The worlds ways & wealth is no longer their own
To their houses & lands they shall never return

.

All nature tho sown with mortalitys seed

Some parts will a spark of long living retain
As branches the tree thats hewn down will succeed
But man is too mortal to flourish again

.
Lifes lamp in unscertainty burneth away

A weak waining vapour of doubtfullest light
With cares ever ready to darken its ray
Till death the extinguisher hides it in night

.
Our friends & our kindred we see them depart

Scant peace of our souls daily tearing away
The dearest of pledges placd nearest the heart
Their memory is all we preserve from decay

.

Love sweetest of Joy is most bitter to trust

Fates errand before us is constantly set
A time is in waiting to turn into dust
The fairest of faces that love ever met

.
Death makes no distinction he slays as in night

The wise & the foolish the king & his slave
& beauty that majic of empty delight
All fall at his footstool of terrors—the grave