435. What if a Day by Thomas Campion
T Campion read by Classic Poetry Aloud: Giving voice to the poetry of the past.\nwww.classicpoetryaloud.com\n\n--------------------------------------------\n\nWhat if a Day\nby Thomas Campion (1567 \u2013 1620) \n\nWhat if a day, or a month, or a year\nCrown thy delights with a thousand sweet contentings?\nCannot a chance of a night or an hour\nCross thy desires with as many sad tormentings?\nFortune, honor, beauty, youth\nAre but blossoms dying;\nWanton pleasure, doting love\nAre but shadows flying.\nAll our joys are but toys,\nIdle thoughts deceiving;\nNone have power of an hour\nIn their lives\u2019 bereaving.\n\n\nEarth\u2019s but a point to the world, and a man\nIs but a point to the world\u2019s compare\xb4d centure;\nShall then the point of a point be so vain\nAs to triumph in a sely point\u2019s adventure?\nAs is hazard that we have,\nThere is nothing biding;\nDays of pleasure are like streams\nThrough fair meadows gliding.\nWeal and woe, time doth go,\nTime is never turning;\nSecret fates guide our states,\nBoth in mirth and mourning.\n\n\nFirst aired: 25 February 2009\n\nFor hundreds more poetry readings, visit the Classic Poetry Aloud index.\n\nReading \xa9 Classic Poetry Aloud 2009