February 24, 1998

they throw themselves carelessly

knowing not who eyes them now

nor fear the mind’s imagin’d joys

God’s given gifts free given to all

to please this little day

that even in its glory

gives way to the greater Light

wherein all joys do find their hope

the Rewarder of the life right lived

Whose simple pleasures careless used

betray the heart still cold in death

though hot the flesh would burn

rejecting of the heart’s release

pleasure’s flames that heat the life

will yield in turn to greater fires

heat the death in bitt’rest pain

reclaim His life while life is yours

lest death close that door to hope

and your pleasures yield at last to

agony