What is Life

& what is Life an hour-glass on the run A mist retreating from the morning sun A busy bustling still repeated dream Its length a minutes pause a moments thought & happiness a bubble on the stream That in the act of seizing shrinks to nought What are vain Hopes the puffing gale of morn That of its charms divests the dewy lawn & robs each floweret of its gem & dies A cobweb hiding disappointments…