Sonnet XXIV

Behold the Day an image of the Year!

The Year an image of our life's short span!

Morn, like the Spring, with growing light began,

Spring, like our Youth, with joy, and beauty fair;

Noon picturing Summer;—Summer's ardent sphere

Manhood's gay portrait.—Eve, like Autumn, wan,

Autumn resembling faded age in Man;

Night, with its silence, and its darkness drear,

Emblem of Winter's frore and gloomy reign,

When torpid lie the vegetative Powers;

Winter, so shrunk, so cold, reminds us plain

Of the mute Grave, that o'er the dim Corse lours;

There shall the Weary rest, nor ought remain

To the pale Slumberer of Life's checker'd hours.