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

by Miss Rossetti

<poem>

          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.