Letras de Hourglass (For Diana)

My life is measured by this glass, this glass
By all those little sands that through pass
See how they press, see how they strive
Which shall with greatest speed and greatest quickness fall
And see how they raise a little mountain then
With their own weight do level it again
But when they have all got through they give over
Their nimble sliding down and move no more

Just such is man whose hours still forward run
Being almost finished ere they are begun
So perfect nothings, such light glass are we
That ere we are aught at all we cease to be
Do what we will our hasty minutes fly
And while we sleep what do we else but die

How transient are our joys and how short their day
They creep on towards us but fly away
And how stinging are our sorrows where they gain
But the least footing there they will remain
And how groundless are our hopes how they deceive
Our childish thoughts and only sorrow leave
And how real are our fears they blast us still
Still rend us still with gnawing passions fill

And how senseless are our wishes yet how great
And with what toil we pursue them and with what sweat
Yet most times for our hurts so small we see
Like children crying for some mercury
And this gapes for marriage yet his fickle head
Knows not what cares wait on the marriage bed
And this vows virginity yet knows not what
Loneliness, grief and discontent attends that state

Desires of wealth another′s wishes hold
And yet how many have been choked with gold
This only hunts for honour yet who shall
Ascend the higher shall more wretched fall
This thirsts for knowledge yet how is it bought
With many a sleepless night and racking thought
And this needs will travel yet how dangers lay
Most secret ambuscades in the way

And these triumph in their beauty though it shall
Like a plucked rose or fading lily fall
Another boasts strong arms alas giants have
By silly dwarves been dragged unto their grave
These ruffling rich silk though ne'er so gay
A well-groomed peacock is more gay than they

A poor man what art a tennis ball of error
A ship of glass tossed in a sea of terror
Issuing in blood and sorrow from the womb
Crawling in tears and mourning to the tomb

How slippery are thy paths how sure thy fall
How art thou nothing when thou art most of all
How art thou nothing when thou art most of all
How art thou nothing when thou art most of all
How art thou nothing when thou art most of all
How art thou nothing when thou art most of all

Issuing in blood and sorrow from the womb
Crawling in tears and mourning to the tomb