A FABLE
Once on a time, Love, Death, and Reputation,
Three travellers, a tour together went;
And, after many a long perambulation,
Agreed to part by mutual consent.
Death said: “My fellow tourists, I am going
To seek for harvests in the embattled plain;
Where drums are beating, and loud trumpets blowing,
There you’ll be sure to meet with me again.”
Love said: “My friends, I mean to spend my leisure
With some young couple, fresh in Hymen’s bands;
Or ‘mongst relations, who in equal measure
Have had bequeath?d to them house or lands.”
But Reputation said: “If once we sever,
Our chance of future meeting is but vain:
Who parts from me, must look to part for ever,
For Reputation lost comes not again.”
(Charles Lamb)
More Poetry from Charles Lamb:
Charles Lamb Poems based on Topics: Friendship, Youth, Love, Time, Death & Dying, Future, Reputation- The Three Friends (Charles Lamb Poems)
- David (Charles Lamb Poems)
- A Vision Of Repentance (Charles Lamb Poems)
- The Boy And The Skylark (Charles Lamb Poems)
- The Magpie's Nest, Or A Lesson Of Docility (Charles Lamb Poems)
- Written A Year After The Events (Charles Lamb Poems)