Brittle beauty, that nature made so frail, <br />Whereof the gift is small, and short the season; <br />Flow'ring today, tomorrow apt to fail, <br />Tickle treasure, abhorrèd of reason; <br />Dangerous to deal with, vain, of none avail, <br />Costly in keeping, past not worth two peason; <br />Slipper in sliding, as is an eelës tail, <br />Hard to obtain, once gotten, not geason; <br />Jewel of jeopardy that peril doth assail, <br />False and untrue, enticèd oft to treason, <br />Enemy to youth; that most may I bewail. <br />Ah, bitter sweet, infecting as the poison, <br />Thou farest as fruit that with the frost is taken, <br />Today ready ripe, tomorrow all to-shaken.<br /><br />Henry Howard<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-frailty-and-hurtfulness-of-beauty/
