Littell's Living Age/Volume 151/Issue 1949/Passing and Glassing

by Miss Rossetti

           All things that pass
          Are woman's looking-glass;
They show her how her bloom must fade,
And she herself be laid
With withered roses in the shade;
     With withered roses and the fallen peach,
          Unlovely, out of reach
          Of summer joy that was.

          All things that pass
          Are woman's tiring-glass;
The faded lavender is sweet,
Sweet the dead violet,
Culled and laid by and cared for yet;
     The dried-up violets and dried lavender
     Still sweet, may comfort her,
          Nor need she cry, Alas!

          All things that pass
          Are wisdom's looking-glass;
Being full of hope and fear, and still
Brimful of good or ill,
According to our work and will;
     For there is nothing new beneath the sun,
     Our doings have been done,
          And that which shall be was.