'I play for Seasons; not Eternities!' <br />Says Nature, laughing on her way. 'So must <br />All those whose stake is nothing more than dust!' <br />And lo, she wins, and of her harmonies <br />She is full sure! Upon her dying rose, <br />She drops a look of fondness, and goes by, <br />Scarce any retrospection in her eye; <br />For she the laws of growth most deeply knows, <br />Whose hands bear, here, a seed-bag--there, an urn. <br />Pledges she herself to aught, 'twould mark her end! <br />This lesson of our only visible friend, <br />Can we not teach our foolish hearts to learn ? <br />Yes! yes !--but, oh, our human rose is fair <br />Surpassingly! Lose calmly Love's great bliss, <br />When the renewed for ever of a kiss <br />Whirls life within the shower of loosened hair!<br /><br />George Meredith<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/modern-love-xiii-i-play-for-seasons-not-eterniti/
