What is Life? by John Clare
b"Clare read by Classic Poetry Aloud:\\nhttp://www.classicpoetryaloud.com/\\n\\nGiving voice to classic poetry.\\n\\n---------------------------------------------------\\n\\n What is Life?\\n\\nby John Clare (1793 \\u2013 1864)\\n\\nAnd what is Life? An hour-glass on the run,\\nA mist retreating from the morning sun,\\nA busy, bustling, still-repeated dream.\\nIts length? A minute's pause, a moment's thought.\\nAnd Happiness? A bubble on the stream,\\nThat in the act of seizing shrinks to nought.\\n\\nAnd what is Hope? The puffing gale of morn,\\nThat of its charms divests the dewy lawn,\\nAnd robs each flow'ret of its gem -and dies;\\nA cobweb, hiding disappointment's thorn,\\nWhich stings more keenly through the thin disguise.\\n\\nAnd what is Death? Is still the cause unfound?\\nThat dark mysterious name of horrid sound?\\nA long and lingering sleep the weary crave.\\nAnd Peace? Where can its happiness abound?\\nNowhere at all, save heaven and the grave.\\n\\nThen what is Life? When stripped of its disguise,\\nA thing to be desired it cannot be;\\nSince everything that meets our foolish eyes\\nGives proof sufficient of its vanity.\\n'Tis but a trial all must undergo,\\nTo teach unthankful mortals how to prize\\nThat happiness vain man's denied to know,\\nUntil he's called to claim it in the skies.\\n \\n\\nComments \\nFor more information on this unjustly neglected 19th Century poet, visit http://www.johnclare.org.uk/"