[What is Life?]
Resembles life what once was deem'd of light,
Too ample in itself for human sight?
An absolute self an element ungrounded
All that we see, all colours of all shade
By encroach of darkness made?
Is very life by consciousness unbounded?
And all the thoughts, pains, joys of mortal breath,
A war-embrace of wrestling life and death?
1829
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[Inscription for a Time-Piece]
Now! It is gone. Our brief hours travel post,
Each with its thought or deed, its Why or How:
But know, each parting hour gives up a ghost
To dwell within thee an eternal Now!
1830