Page:Poems Rossetti.djvu/404

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376
PASSING AND GLASSING.
PASSING AND GLASSING.
  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.