henry austin dobson

the paradox of time

time goes, you say? ah no!
alas, time stays, we go;
or else, were this not so,
what need to chain the hours,
for youth were always ours?
time goes, you say? - ah no!

ours is the eyes' deceit
of men whose flying feet
lead through some landscape low;
we pass, and think we see
the earth's fixed surface flee: -
alas, time stays, - we go!

once in the days of old,
your locks were curling gold,
and mine had shamed the crow.
now, in the self- same stage,
we' ve reached the silver age;
time goes, you say? - ah no!

once, when my voice was strong,
i filled the woods with song
to praise your ' rose' and 'snow';
my bird, that sang, is dead;
where are your roses fled?
alas, time stays, - we go!

see, in what traversed ways,
what backward fate delays
the hopes we used to know;
where are our old desires? -
ah, where those vanished fires?
time goes, you say? - ah no!

how far, how far, o sweet,
the past behind our feet
lies in the even- glow!
now, on the forward way,
let us fold hands, and pray;
alas, time stays,- we go!

şiiriyle ün salmış ingiliz şairdir.