Even This Will Pass Away

Once in Persia reigned a king
Who upon a signet ring
Carved a maxim strange and wise
When held before his eyes
Gave him counsel at a glance
Fit for every change and chance
Solemn words, and these were they
“EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY.”

Trains of camel through the sand
Brought him gems from Samarkand
Fleets of galleys over the seas
Brought him pearls to rival these
But he counted little gain
Treasures of the mine or main
“What is wealth?” the king would say
“EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY.”

Mid the pleasures of his court
At the zenith of their sport
When the palms of all his guests
Burned with clapping at his jests
Seated midst the figs and wine
Said the king, “Ah, friends of mine
Pleasure comes but not to stay,
“EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY.”

Woman, fairest ever seen
Was the bride he crowned as queen
Pillowed on the marriage-bed
Whispering to his soul, he said
“Though no monarch ever pressed
Fairer bosom to his breast
Mortal flesh is only clay
“EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY.”

Fighting on the furious field
Once a javelin pierced his shield
Soldiers with a loud lament
Bore him bleeding to his tortured side
“Pain is hard to bear;” he cried
“But with patience, day by day
EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY.”

Towering in a public square
Forty cubits in this air
And the king disguised, unknown
Gazed upon his sculptured name
And he pondered, “What is fame?”
“Fame is but a slow decay!
“EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY.”

Struck with palsy, sore and old,
Waiting at the gates of gold
Said he with his dying breath
“Life is done, but what is Death?”
Then as answer to the king
Fell a sunbeam on his ring
Showing by a heavenly ray
EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY.”

- Theodore Tilton