ARE all things disappointment ? Must we turn
In this rank garden of life from tree to ‘tree,
Catching at fruit and blossom eagerly,
Only to find each orb that seemed to burn
Live gold within its leaves the painted urn
Of ashes ; must each shining blossom be
Dead as the wreaths of last night’s revelry
Which footsteps of repentant riot spurn ?
Is nothing worth the winning ? Are the vows
Of lovers falser than the fleeting air ?
Is every face a mask, however fair,
Hiding the horrors of the charnel-house ?
Is every crown we set upon our hair
The cruel circle of thorns that scars our brows ?
(Justin H. McCarthy)
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Based on Topics: Life Poems, Nature Poems, Fairness Poems, Success PoemsBased on Keywords: falser, charnel-house